His Dark Lady

London, 1583. When young, aspiring playwright William Shakespeare encounters Lucy Morgan , one of Queen Elizabeth I’s ladies-in-waiting, the two fall passionately in love . He declares Lucy the inspiration for his work, but what secret is Will hiding from his muse? Meanwhile, Lucy has her own secret – and one that could destroy her world if exposed . No longer the chaste maid so valued by the Virgin Queen , she also bore witness to the clandestine wedding of Lettice Knollys and Robert Dudley, a match forbidden by the monarch. England is in peril . Queen Elizabeth’s health is deteriorating, her throne under siege from Catholic plotters and threats of war with Spain. Faced with deciding the fate of her long-term prisoner, Mary, Queen of Scots, she needs a trusted circle of advisors around her now more than ever. But who can she turn to when those closest to her have proved disloyal ? And how secure is Lucy’s position at court, now that she has learned the dangerous art of keeping secrets ?