Blood Between Queens (44 page)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’ve been fortunate to work with the gifted Audrey LaFehr as my editor at Kensington Books in New York for five books in my “Thornleigh” series. No author could ask for a more dedicated champion. I’m also grateful to the team of splendid professionals at Kensington who shepherd my books so skillfully through the production process, including Production Editor Paula Reedy and Assistant Editor Martin Biro. Special thanks go to John Rosenberg, whose indefatigable work has made my books so successful in Canada. My agent, Al Zuckerman, of Writers House, has been a mainstay for many years, and I continue to appreciate his literary advice and steady counsel. My deepest thanks go to my husband, Stephen Best, who sees the heart of everything I write and helps me shape it.
It’s a great pleasure to acknowledge some wonderful input from my readers. While I was writing
Blood Between Queens
I ran a contest—the “Name the Thornleighs’ House” contest—and scores of readers sent in suggestions. Everyone who participated has my sincere thanks. Here are the results. Fourth runner-up: Col. Elmer Follis of Tennessee for “Haven Hall.” Third runner-up: Lynne Deragon of Ontario for “Larkston Place.” Second runner-up: Linda Lefler of Nova Scotia for “Thornbloom.” First runner-up: Hollye Patterson of Tennessee for “Larkeleigh.” And the winner: Pat Larke of Indiana for “Rosethorn Manor.” Thank you, Pat, for so elegantly grafting Honor’s love of roses onto Richard’s surname. I was delighted to call the Thornleighs’ home “Rosethorn” throughout the novel.
Blood Between Queens
I ran a contest—the “Name the Thornleighs’ House” contest—and scores of readers sent in suggestions. Everyone who participated has my sincere thanks. Here are the results. Fourth runner-up: Col. Elmer Follis of Tennessee for “Haven Hall.” Third runner-up: Lynne Deragon of Ontario for “Larkston Place.” Second runner-up: Linda Lefler of Nova Scotia for “Thornbloom.” First runner-up: Hollye Patterson of Tennessee for “Larkeleigh.” And the winner: Pat Larke of Indiana for “Rosethorn Manor.” Thank you, Pat, for so elegantly grafting Honor’s love of roses onto Richard’s surname. I was delighted to call the Thornleighs’ home “Rosethorn” throughout the novel.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS
Barbara Kyle
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions are included to
enhance your group’s reading of Barbara Kyle’s
Blood Between Queens.
enhance your group’s reading of Barbara Kyle’s
Blood Between Queens.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
Secrets figure prominently in
Blood Between Queens
. Richard and Honor Thornleigh have kept Justine’s identity as a Grenville secret to spare her the stigma of being known as a traitor’s child. Were they right in making this decision?
Secrets figure prominently in
Blood Between Queens
. Richard and Honor Thornleigh have kept Justine’s identity as a Grenville secret to spare her the stigma of being known as a traitor’s child. Were they right in making this decision?
2.
Justine has hidden from the Thornleighs the fact that her traitorous father is alive because she believes that he will never come back to England. Was she wise in hiding this crucial information from them?
Justine has hidden from the Thornleighs the fact that her traitorous father is alive because she believes that he will never come back to England. Was she wise in hiding this crucial information from them?
3.
Justine doesn’t tell Will about her Grenville background for fear of losing him, convincing herself that the feud between their families is long past and best forgotten. Do you, like Justine, think that secrets are sometimes necessary?
Justine doesn’t tell Will about her Grenville background for fear of losing him, convincing herself that the feud between their families is long past and best forgotten. Do you, like Justine, think that secrets are sometimes necessary?
4.
Several characters in
Blood Between Queens
have to make hard choices. Queen Elizabeth must decide what to do with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who has fled to England asking for Elizabeth’s protection and an army to rout her enemies in Scotland. But Elizabeth dare not antagonize her ally, the Scottish Protestant government, by helping restore Mary to her throne. Neither, though, can she allow Mary to move freely around England because of Mary’s dangerous appeal to English Catholics who want her on the English throne. Given this dilemma, do you think Elizabeth was justified in keeping Mary under house arrest?
Several characters in
Blood Between Queens
have to make hard choices. Queen Elizabeth must decide what to do with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who has fled to England asking for Elizabeth’s protection and an army to rout her enemies in Scotland. But Elizabeth dare not antagonize her ally, the Scottish Protestant government, by helping restore Mary to her throne. Neither, though, can she allow Mary to move freely around England because of Mary’s dangerous appeal to English Catholics who want her on the English throne. Given this dilemma, do you think Elizabeth was justified in keeping Mary under house arrest?
5.
When Christopher Grenville fled England, he lost everything: his lands, his grand house, and even his daughter Justine, who has been brought up by his enemies, the Thornleighs. Do you feel any sympathy for Grenville in using Justine to get revenge on Richard Thornleigh?
When Christopher Grenville fled England, he lost everything: his lands, his grand house, and even his daughter Justine, who has been brought up by his enemies, the Thornleighs. Do you feel any sympathy for Grenville in using Justine to get revenge on Richard Thornleigh?
6.
Mary, Queen of Scots refuses to attend the inquiry to answer questions about her involvement in the murder of her husband. Was she right to refuse to appear and refute the charges of her subjects? Do you think she was innocent or guilty of complicity in the murder?
Mary, Queen of Scots refuses to attend the inquiry to answer questions about her involvement in the murder of her husband. Was she right to refuse to appear and refute the charges of her subjects? Do you think she was innocent or guilty of complicity in the murder?
7.
Hoping to help Mary clear her name, Justine tells Mary that the casket letters have been introduced in private at the inquiry as damning evidence against her. Did you think Justine was right to try to help Mary?
Hoping to help Mary clear her name, Justine tells Mary that the casket letters have been introduced in private at the inquiry as damning evidence against her. Did you think Justine was right to try to help Mary?
8.
Justine deceives Will in order to get his copies of Mary’s letters, hoping it will bring an end to the inquiry, and she seduces him to accomplish this. Do you think Justine’s deception was valid?
Justine deceives Will in order to get his copies of Mary’s letters, hoping it will bring an end to the inquiry, and she seduces him to accomplish this. Do you think Justine’s deception was valid?
9.
Frances Thornleigh’s overwhelming love for her husband Adam makes her irrationally jealous of Elizabeth, so she helps her brother conspire against Elizabeth. Do you sympathize with Frances? Is love ever a justifiable motive for a crime?
Frances Thornleigh’s overwhelming love for her husband Adam makes her irrationally jealous of Elizabeth, so she helps her brother conspire against Elizabeth. Do you sympathize with Frances? Is love ever a justifiable motive for a crime?
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2013 by Barbara Kyle
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-7322-2
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-9100-4
eISBN-10: 0-7582-9100-0
First Kensington Electronic Edition: May 2013
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