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Watch the Lady

(The Tudor Trilogy #3)

Elizabeth Fremantle

3.89 · Rating details · 836 ratings · 149 reviews

THE QUEEN'S GODDAUGHTER.
HER MOST TRUSTED MAID.
ADULTRESS.
ENEMY OF THE STATE.

WHO IS THE REAL PENELOPE DEVEREUX?

Penelope Devereux is a legendary beauty in the court of Elizabeth I, with a smile that would light up the shadows of hell. But it's not just her looks which have won her favour with the Queen wing; her canny instinct for being in the right place at the right time, ...more

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Hardcover, 496 pages

Published June 18th 2015 by Penguin (first published June 9th 2015)

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Start your review of Watch the Lady (The Tudor Trilogy, #3)

Aug 25, 2015 B the BookAddict rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Historical Faction buffs

Recommended to B the BookAddict by: Marita

Shelves: historical-faction

The famed beauty Penelope Devereux, reported to be the muse of poet Robert Sidney, was born in 1563. She’s the great grand-daughter of Mary Boleyn by Henry VIII and her mother is Lettice Knollys who vexed Elizabeth I by marrying her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester after Penelope’s father dies. Her beloved brother is Robert, second Earl of Essex and she will support him in all his political endeavours, even the final one: (view spoiler) The famed beauty Penelope Devereux, reported to be the muse of poet Robert Sidney, was born in 1563. She’s the great grand-daughter of Mary Boleyn by Henry VIII and her mother is Lettice Knollys who vexed Elizabeth I by marrying her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester after Penelope’s father dies. Her beloved brother is Robert, second Earl of Essex and she will support him in all his political endeavours, even the final one: (view spoiler). Robert will shockingly cast aspersion on Penelope’s own loyalty to the queen. His was a star that shone brightly in the Elizabethan court as he became the monarch’s new favourite and his fame grew strong among the English public. But even Penelope could see that as his public popularity grew, Elizabeth was becoming less enthralled with the handsome soldier and courtier.

“When Nature made her chief work, Stella's eyes,
In colour black why wrapt she beams so bright?
Would she in beamy black, like painter wise,
Frame daintiest lustre, mix'd of shades and light?
Or did she else that sober hue devise,
In object best to knit and strength our sight;
Lest, if no veil these brave gleams did disguise,
They, sunlike, should more dazzle than delight?
Or would she her miraculous power show,
That, whereas black seems beauty's contrary,
She even in black doth make all beauties flow?
Both so, and thus, she, minding Love should be
Plac'd ever there, gave him this mourning weed
To honour all their deaths who for her bleed.”

From Astrophil and Stella 7 by Sir Robert Sidney

Penelope does not lead a charmed life; although her father wished her to marry Robert Sidney, Elizabeth matched her with the Lord Rich; a complex man, he was Puritan by creed but pursued intimacies with those of his own sex. At court, the Queen’s principal secretary, the crooked spined Thomas Cecil, treats Penelope with disdain and distrust; he will employ spies to watch her every move. Quietly and stealthily, Penelope and her brother carry on making political overtures to James, King of Scotland; even as they are aware of the huge risk involved. After Penelope fulfils her side of the marriage bargain she has with Lord Rich, she carries on a long-term affair with Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy, resulting in another four children. Theirs will be a very happy union but after Penelope divorces Rich, the monarch will not allow her marriage to Blount to go ahead.

Elizabeth Fremantle presents to the reader an Elizabethan woman who was very unlike the other Court women. She does not buck the system outwardly but very quietly shores up her family’s strength and wealth and supports their political dreams. She builds up her own network of spies and informers at a time when most court women were fussing about fashion, husbands, jewellery and currying favour with Elizabeth. She is an interesting woman of history and Fremantle’s book has certainly sparked my interest in Penelope and her relationship with her brother Robert. Fremantle’s writing is such that I had over twenty passages earmarked with page flags; she is a lovely writer, never soppy or romantic: she has an intelligent, interesting style which leaves the reader wanting more.

Watch the Lady: A Novel is the story of a woman but also of a time, of a monarch and of history. I will be pursuing her other books. A huge thanks to Marita: her review was why I picked up this novel. A very definite 4★. ...more

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Aug 18, 2017 ``Laurie Henderson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pbo, british-isles, historical-fiction, fiction, england, tudor-era, elizabethan-era, renaissance

Once again Elizabeth Fremantle fails to impress.

Penelope Devereux, the sister to Robert, led a very exciting life during the Renaissance reign of Elizabeth I and I've tried to read every book I could find about her.

With such riches from which to mine when writing this book, Fremantle's characters never come alive and the book is never exciting.

For new readers just discovering this subject I imagine it would be a very exciting read. ...more

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Aug 20, 2016 BAM Endlessly Booked rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-have-read, british-historical-fiction, library

For many of us history buffs, the story of the Earl of Essex is well known, but not so much the story of his older sister , Penelope. The author of this book expressed her desire to adhere to historical fact whenever possible, but she often had to resort to conjecture because so much is not known. Having said that, I finished this book having developed great respect for the courage for this great lady of the Elizabethan age. She had guts for sure. She lived life by her rules.
I also realized I h ...more

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May 31, 2015 Jennifer rated it really liked it

This was another great read by Elizabeth Freemantle. This time she delves into the later years of the reign of Elizabeth I by telling the story of Penelope Devereux, lady in waiting to Elizabeth and sister of Elizabeth's favorite of the time; the second Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux.
What I loved most about this novel was how the author was able to create the atmosphere of backbiting and jealously in Elizabeth's court. The rivalry between Robert Devereux and Robert Cecil (son of William Cecil, L This was another great read by Elizabeth Freemantle. This time she delves into the later years of the reign of Elizabeth I by telling the story of Penelope Devereux, lady in waiting to Elizabeth and sister of Elizabeth's favorite of the time; the second Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux.
What I loved most about this novel was how the author was able to create the atmosphere of backbiting and jealously in Elizabeth's court. The rivalry between Robert Devereux and Robert Cecil (son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and later Earl of Salisbury under James I) was vicious at times. The novel was full of intrigue and conspiracy and yet not to the point of conjecture on the author's part, keeping this novel's foot holding firmly in the historical fiction pool and not in it's subgenre of historical mystery. Not that I don't love a good historical mystery but often they can favor speculation and hyperbole over fact and as the author states at the book of this novel: "I have adhered closely to historical fact".
Penelope Devereux is a fascinating character and what I particularly enjoyed was that the author did not concentrate solely on her being the inspiration for Sir Phillip Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella" sonnet series. Yes Sir Phillip is in the novel but it is the later years of Penelope's life that make for the most interesting read. She had a sharp mind and a keenness for politics. She was in contact with James VI of Scotland long before he became James I of England. She was part of her brother's rebellion of 1601, although to what extent we can only speculate. It is very interesting that Penelope was the only person on the list of rebels given to the Queen that did not face trial.
Overall I found this to be a compelling and enjoyable read. The characters were well-developed and the content thought-provoking. It was interesting to see the outsider portrayal of the later years of Elizabeth's reign. I have read a lot of historical fiction about the earlier years, but there does not seem to be as much about the years leading up to her death. Although this novel somewhat puts you in the Devereux camp I still found Elizabeth's story to be quite saddening in the end. ...more

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Jun 01, 2016 Naksed rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

"Watch the lady; watch and wait" Lord Cecil admonishes his overeager son. "Water hollows a stone, not by force but by falling often."

The lady in question is Penelope Devereux, a descendant of Mary Boleyn and therefore related to Queen Elizabeth I. She is also the object of Robert Cecil's wrath, convinced that she and her brother Essex are traitors to the Queen. The wheel of political power is forever turning and churning, with Cecil at the top, then the Devereux back again, in a court intrigue t ...more

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Aug 13, 2015 Caz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, historical-fiction, audiobook, audiogals

I've given this an A-/B for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals.

Watch the Lady is a fascinating piece of historical fiction based on the life of Lady Penelope Rich, the sister of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Penelope is widely believed to have been the inspiration for Sir Philip Sydney’s famous sonnet sequence, Astrophel and Stella; and her life was an unconventional one, to say the very least. She was beautiful, possessed of a fine mind, took a keen interest in politics and, for a wo ...more

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Apr 10, 2017 Shirley Revill rated it liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed reading this book it was really interesting. Recommended.

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Feb 03, 2018 Shirley Revill rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed. Recommended.

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Jun 04, 2019 Lois rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, audio-book, all-things-british-history, books-i-own-digital-copy, books-i-read-in-2019, kindle-unlimited-or-scribd, historical-fiction

I liked that this was about completely different members of the Tudor Mess.
Still this dragged in places and was too romantic for me.

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May 25, 2015 Kate rated it it was amazing

What a wonderful book! A fascinating look at the last 15 years or so of Elizabeth I's reign, a time that rarely receives attention, focusing on charismatic siblings and Elizabeth's favourites Penelope Devereux and the Earl of Essex.

...more

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Jun 28, 2015 Arleigh rated it really liked it

Penelope Devereux, daughter of Lettice Knollys, the woman Queen Elizabeth I called the “She-Wolf” for marrying the royal favorite, is pitted against the Essex faction’s rival, Robert Cecil, in this panoramic Tudor narrative. Penelope, beautiful, level-headed and witty, makes a perfect waiting lady and voice for the out-of-favor Devereux family, though it is her brother who catches the Queen’s attention.

Robert Cecil, son of the Queen’s most trusted advisor, Lord Burghley, has loathed Robert Dever Penelope Devereux, daughter of Lettice Knollys, the woman Queen Elizabeth I called the “She-Wolf” for marrying the royal favorite, is pitted against the Essex faction’s rival, Robert Cecil, in this panoramic Tudor narrative. Penelope, beautiful, level-headed and witty, makes a perfect waiting lady and voice for the out-of-favor Devereux family, though it is her brother who catches the Queen’s attention.

Robert Cecil, son of the Queen’s most trusted advisor, Lord Burghley, has loathed Robert Devereux since childhood, when the latter joined in to bully the physically weak Cecil. Thus an enmity existed when they each became an important fixture at court. Penelope, ever her brother’s champion, lead the family through the tangle of intrigues, deftly extracting herself from scandal time and again. Cecil, however, recognized her as the intelligent schemer she was, but was also devastatingly attracted to her. He continuously warred with himself over his desire to bring the family down.

At over 500 pages, this is a detailed story, but one that holds the attention and doesn’t unnecessarily lag. Penelope is an interesting lead with her relationship with the poet Philip Sydney, and famous role as Stella in the sonnet Astrophil and Stella. While this builds her personality, she is a character who grows up within the pages–probably all the more noticeable next her brother’s instability. Cecil, also intriguing, has redeeming qualities while dealing with his own demons. Their political tête-à-tête becomes the main theme of the story, and even if the reader isn’t quite taken with the Essex agenda, Penelope remains the true protagonist.

The only possible issue with this book is its size, but as it doesn’t bore, this isn’t a problem for voracious readers. Historically sound details, expertly crafted dialog, and a satisfying pace set this novel apart from others in the genre. It is highly recommended for Tudor enthusiasts–especially those interested in the twilight of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known character of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. ...more

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Jun 22, 2015 Blodeuedd Finland rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

It was hard, but I refrained from googling to I could see how it all turned out! Oh, but it was so hard! My fingers were itching to see how it all would play out, but I stayed my course, and finished the book, and then googled! A good historical fiction novel always makes me google everything, and everyone.

Penelope Deveraux, the name does not tell me anything. Her brother, Earl Essex tells me more. But then the author does mention how history likes to erase those women who did more than they sho ...more

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Apr 20, 2015 Kathleen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 22, 2015 Terelyn Marks rated it really liked it

It's good to read something about the OTHER people in the courts -- Penelope Devereaux, Elizabeth's cousin, lived a fascinating life and one you don't hear much about. She was actually quite influential and close to the queen. ...more

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Feb 19, 2015 Jules (Never enough time to read) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, into-the-past-i-go, read-in-2015, 2015-favourites

Elizabeth Fremantle is fast becoming my favourite historical author.

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Sep 24, 2018 Morgan Dhu rated it really liked it

The final book in Elizabeth Fremantle’s Tudor trilogy, Watch the Lady, features a woman who was both prominent and notorious in her own time, but mostly forgotten today - Penelope Devereux. Most of those familiar with Elizabethan England will be well aware of her younger brother, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, favourite of the aging Queen Elizabeth and, ultimately, traitor. Penelope, however, was in her own way just as dashing, just as brilliant, and just as dangerous.

The Devereux siblings wer The final book in Elizabeth Fremantle’s Tudor trilogy, Watch the Lady, features a woman who was both prominent and notorious in her own time, but mostly forgotten today - Penelope Devereux. Most of those familiar with Elizabethan England will be well aware of her younger brother, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, favourite of the aging Queen Elizabeth and, ultimately, traitor. Penelope, however, was in her own way just as dashing, just as brilliant, and just as dangerous.

The Devereux siblings were the children of Lettice Knollys, cousin to the Queen, and her first husband, Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex. Lettice was the daughter of Catherine Carey, herself the daughter of Henry VIII’s mistress Mary Boleyn and often thought to be the unacknowledged daughter of the king. Lettice is said to have looked very much like the Queen, and their relationship while Lettice was at court is usually portrayed as something of a rivalry. However, when Elizabeth’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, entered into a secret marriage with her following the death of her first husband, she was exiled from court, and Elizabeth took much care in seeing that Robert was kept at and away from Lettice as much as possible.

Penelope came to court as a maid of honour to Elizabeth when she was 18, and her bold manner won her favour with the queen. She was much admired at court for her beauty, her musical ability and her dancing, as well as her lively manner. The poet and courtier Philip Sidney, nephew and at ine time heir presumptive of Robert Dudley, wrote the famous sonnet sequence Stella and Astrophel about her. There had been discussion of a marriage between Penelope and Sidney when the two were young, but ironically, the birth of Penelope’s half-brother to Leicester and Lettice ended Sidney’s hopes of inheriting money and titles, and the plan was dropped. Both Sidney and Penelope would marry others, and it is unknown if the sonnets were just the result of poetical fancy, or if they actually had an affair.

Fremantle begins her novel with Penelope’s arrival at court and establishment as a favourite of the Queen. Not long after her arrival, she was married, against her will, to Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick. They had a spectacularly bad marriage; Penelope was flagrantly unfaithful with at least one lover, Sir Charles Blount, and other than spending enough time with him to produce seven children, lived a relatively independent life, which he supported financially. Rich was unusually tolerant for this era, and Fremantle speculates that he was a hidden homosexual, which Penelope promised to keep secret as long as he allowed her to live freely.

Fremantle gives Penelope a significant role in the shaping of her brother Essex’s rise to power, and in the intrigues that ultimately led to his execution. It is Penelope who advises him, trues to talk him out if the worst excesses if his pride, intercedes with the Queen when she can, and helps organise his intelligence network. It is Penelope who engages in a battle of influence at court, her opponent the wily young Robert Cecil, who succeeded his father to the position of the Queen’s chief advisor. And it is Penelope who forges a connection with James of Scotland, though by the time James does come to the throne, Essex is no longer living and it is Penelope alone who benefits from the long secret alliance.

It’s a fascinating portrait of a woman who, rather like Elizabeth herself, lived her own life in a world not yet ready for strong and independent women. She used every possible weapon to achieve her goals - intelligence, beauty and sexuality - and appears to have lived life on her own terms until the end.

I also enjoyed some of the little things buried in the story. Fremantle has some literary fun, for the sharp-eyed - at one point she has Cecil regretting the recent murder in Deptford disguised of one of his chief spies. As most Elizabethan aficionados know, Christopher Marlowe was thought to be a spy for the Queen, and died in a barfight in Deptford. And there’s a scene where a bold young actor, performing at a house party at Essex’s estate, parodies the style of one of Sidney’s Stella sonnets, with one of his own - the poem is Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, “My Mistress’ Eyes.” ...more

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Aug 12, 2017 Michelle Ryles rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-read

I think it's safe to say that Elizabeth I would not have liked this book as she is not the star of the show, instead it is someone I had never heard of: Penelope Devereaux. I had, however, heard of her famous brother: the queen's favourite, Essex. I do love to read both fiction and non-fiction set in the Tudor period and it does seem to be a popular topic with lots of authors, but what makes this stand out from the crowd is the main character, Penelope.

Penelope is the queen's goddaughter and als I think it's safe to say that Elizabeth I would not have liked this book as she is not the star of the show, instead it is someone I had never heard of: Penelope Devereaux. I had, however, heard of her famous brother: the queen's favourite, Essex. I do love to read both fiction and non-fiction set in the Tudor period and it does seem to be a popular topic with lots of authors, but what makes this stand out from the crowd is the main character, Penelope.

Penelope is the queen's goddaughter and also one of her favourite maids; she is such a strong character and is never afraid to stand up to Elizabeth, no doubt because Henry VIII's blood also flows through Penelope's veins. For Penelope's grandmother, Catherine Carey, was reputed to be the child of Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII. Scandal continues to follow Penelope's ancestors as her mother is Lettice Knollys who was cast out of Elizabeth's court after she secretly married one of the queen's favourites, Robert Dudley.

Like all maids in the Tudor court, Penelope is subject to an arranged marriage. At one point she was promised to Philip Sidney, and although the marriage never came to fruition she never stopped loving him and was infact the muse for some of his poetry. Instead, Penelope marries Lord Rich but it is a loveless marriage and they strike an unconventional deal that will leave Penelope free to follow her heart, wherever it may take her.

With well known names from the Tudor Court, including Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys, Charles Blount, Essex, Sir Walter Ralegh and Francis Bacon, this is a story of scandal and intrigue with deceit and backstabbing a-plenty as people jostle for position. Like a Shakespearean play, with the bard himself making a brief appearance, there are a lot of characters so I think it could have benefited from a character list at the beginning or end. It was nothing that google couldn't fix as I wracked my brain for the history behind certain well-known names.

There's treachery afoot in the Tudor Court and with so many people under suspicion you can't keep your eye on them all, so make sure you Watch the Lady. Definitely recommended for historical fiction lovers as Elizabeth Fremantle certainly gives Philippa Gregory a run for her money.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ...more

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Jul 13, 2018 Laura Tenfingers rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, britain, tudors, 1500-1800-early-modern-period

A very interesting and engaging story of the later part of Elizabeth I's reign. I've read more about her earlier days with Robert Dudley and William Cecil but this story is focused around Elizabeth's later favourite, Robert Devereux, his sister Penelope Devereux and Robert Cecil. Palace intrigue, vying for power and plenty of treason.

The story is told alternating Penelope's and Cecil's points of view. Both characters are very well developed and fun to follow, but Cecil was definitely my favouri ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Helena Wildsmith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely loved this book! It was truly fascinating reading about Penelope Devereux and learning more about that period of history. I would definitely love to read more books by Elizabeth Fremantle.

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Dec 13, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have read all the books in the series and loved them all. I love how the characters are written, especially the women, and how the story progresses. There was no point where I was bored and I just wanted to read more. I will definitely read more from this author.

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May 27, 2015 Marie Z. Johansen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, tudor

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Freemantle's and this, her latest, is surely one of the best.

The Devereux and Knollys families were key peers during the Elizabethan period. Penelope was the daughter of the Queen's nemesis, Lettice Knollys, and the sister of the Queen's young favorite, the Earl of Essex. Penelope appears to have been the brains of the Devereux clan, while the Earl was the charmer of the family who gained great notice by being doted on by the Queen.

As a fan of non-fiction, I was pl I have been a fan of Elizabeth Freemantle's and this, her latest, is surely one of the best.

The Devereux and Knollys families were key peers during the Elizabethan period. Penelope was the daughter of the Queen's nemesis, Lettice Knollys, and the sister of the Queen's young favorite, the Earl of Essex. Penelope appears to have been the brains of the Devereux clan, while the Earl was the charmer of the family who gained great notice by being doted on by the Queen.

As a fan of non-fiction, I was pleased at how the story follows the facts and at how seamlessly Ms. Freemantle blended fact with fiction - offering well fleshed characters and smooth flowing prose.

This book follows the story of Penelope, her brother, the Earl and, interestingly, Cecil, the maverick spymaster and counselor. (Son of Lord Burghley). Cecil was intrigued by Penelope; he admired her beauty and went head to head with her brains. Cecil also, both actively and covertly, was no fan of the Earl's. Indeed he was largely responsible, through his plotting, for the events that led to the downfall and ultimate death of the Earl of Essex who was tried for treason and met his death at the hands of a headsman.

The book is slightly sympathetic to Cecil and it is largely favorable to Penelope. Despite keeping her head and ultimately being reunited with her truest love, Blount, their happiness was to be short lived. Penelope's forced marriage to the unlikeable Sir Richard Rich is also a focus of the book. He is a character that I have never liked in any non-fiction reading that I have done. Penelope lived her life on her own terms while still trying to work within the strictures of maintaining the dignity of the Devereux name.

She was a remarkable woman for her day...for any time really...and I am eager to read her biography now to fill in more facts.
This book should hold great appeal for any fan of excellent historical fiction, the Tudor and Elizabethan periods or any fiction buff in general.

Well done Elizabeth Mantle. I cannot wait for your next book! ...more

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Jun 10, 2015 Julie rated it it was amazing

This book is set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and focuses on the people in her innermost circle who are constantly vying for position and at the same time they are all trying to feather their own nests and predict the replacement in anticipation of needing a new monarch.

Penelope Devereux, a beauty who can also sing wonderfully, and her family i.e. her mother Lettice who has been banished from court for life. Her sister Dorothy – also banished from court for marrying without permission. Her ...more

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Jul 21, 2015 Manda Scott rated it it was amazing

Ever since Queen's Gambit took the world of historical fiction by storm 3 years ago, Liz Fremantle's books have been the ones to watch in the world of Tudor fiction. The combination of depth, intelligence and real historical imagination that she brings to bear on the lesser-known (but immensely powerful) women of the Tudor era is unmatched in contemporary writing and gets better with each book. Not that either of the previous ones were sub par - far from it, they were exceptional - but, as with ...more

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May 18, 2016 Brian rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is an extremely intelligent novel, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, even though this is not - definitely not - 'my' period of history.

SOME SPOILERS BELOW:-

I had heard of Penelope Devereux before, indeed have come across her in various works of fiction, but she really comes alive here. Freemantle's Penelope is beautiful (and we have the evidence of Sidney's poems for that) but also highly intelligent, politically astute and remarkably independent for a woman of the era. This indepe ...more

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Mar 08, 2015 V.E. Lynne rated it really liked it

The last years of Elizabeth I's reign were perilous times for many courtiers but particularly so for the Devereux family: Robert, the charismatic and unpredictable Earl of Essex and his sister Penelope, beautiful, spirited, married to a man who doesn't desire her as well as becoming the muse of renowned poet/soldier Philip Sidney. Penelope's role as 'Stella' to Sidney's 'Astrophil' takes up part of this book, and was a deep but unconsummated love, however for the most part 'Watch the Lady' is ta ...more

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Jun 03, 2015 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways

Stella star of heavenly fire,
Stella lodestar of desire.

Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella

Penelope Devereux is a beauty that inspires exquisite poetry. But that is not all she is; fascinating, intelligent, prudent, unafraid of flirting with danger... had she been a man, she would have surely been a renowned figure in English history. Goddaughter of Queen Elizabeth I, sister of the Earl of Essex, she loves Philip Sidney but her heart is to be broken when she is forced to marry another.

This ...more

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Apr 25, 2015 Jane rated it it was amazing

I have been fortunate to be asked to review this authors other historical novels, so when I was asked by Lovereading.co.uk to review Watch the Lady I was pleased and intrigued.
I was familiar with the character Penelope Devereux in that was an English noblewoman and was the sister of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. She married Robert Rich, 3rd Baron Rich(later 1st Earl of Warwick) and had a liaison with Charles Blount, Baron Mountjoy, (later first Earl of Devonshire), whom she married in an u ...more

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Feb 04, 2016 Karen Mace rated it liked it

Shelves: firstreads, paperbacks, tbr

Received this via the GoodReads Giveaway competition before release so thankyou to the publishers.

This story follows Penelope Devereux and her trials and tribulations through her time in court with Queen Elizabeth. Her brother is The Earl of Essex so a huge favourite of the Queen which leads to others trying to find fault and cause more rifts.

Fascinating studies of the lesser known characters of the time and it's full of wonderful detail and history that really captures the essence of life in Tu ...more

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Jun 05, 2015 Deanne Wildsmith rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads

I was very happy to have received this book from Goodreads Giveaway as Elizabeth Fremantle is an author I have wanted to try for some time. Whilst I have read books about Elizabeth 1 and various other characters from that era, I did not know anything about Penelope Deveraux, Lord Essex's sister.
Whilst I knew Essex's fate, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to Penelope. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who like historical fiction.

I will definitely read ...more

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Jun 04, 2015 NormaCenva rated it liked it

Shelves: giveaways-first-reads, hopetown-h-library

I know that I did not read the previous books in the series. But I still liked this one. It was nicely written and despite the fact that Historical Fiction is not really my cup of tea, I was able to appreciate the story here, the pacing and character development was pleasant. I will be honest with you, I will not be checking out the other books in the series, but this one I did enjoy.

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Elizabeth Fremantle

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Elizabeth Fremantle is the critically acclaimed author of Tudor and Elizabethan set novels: Queen's Gambit, Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady and Times Books of the Year: The Girl in the Glass Tower and The Poison Bed, a historical thriller written under the name EC Fremantle described as 'a Jacobean Gone Girl.'

Her latest novel is The Honey and the Sting, published August 6th 2020 as EC Fremantle ...more