The Queen's Christmas Summons. Amanda McCabe

      “Royal courts are glittering places. But there can be many dangers there.”

      The words of Juan, the shipwrecked Spanish sailor Lady Alys Drury nursed back to health, echo in her mind as she puts on another courtly smile.

      Then Alys locks eyes with a handsome man amid the splendor of Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas court—Juan is posing as courtier John Huntley! Alys is hurt at Juan’s deception until she learns he’s an undercover spy for the crown... Amid the murky machinations of the court, can true love still conquer all?

       Praise for Amanda McCabe

      ‘McCabe sweeps readers into the world of the Elizabethan theatre, delighting us with a lively tale and artfully drawing on the era’s backdrop of bawdy plays, wild actors and thrilling adventure.’

      —RT Book Reviews on The Taming of the Rogue

      ‘Including a darling little girl, meddling relatives and a bit of suspense, McCabe’s story charms readers.’

      —RT Book Reviews on Running from Scandal

      ‘McCabe highlights an unusual and fascinating piece of history whilst never losing sight of the romance or adventure.’

      —RT Book Reviews on The Demure Miss Manning

      Alys put on her courtly smile, prepared to meet another of Ellen’s peacock friends—and the smile froze before it could form.

      It had not been an illusion, a fleeting trick of her tired mind. It was him—Juan. Right there before her when she had been so sure she would never see him again—could never see him again. She shivered and fell back a step, suddenly feeling so very cold.

      He did not quite look like her Juan, bearded and ragged from the sea. He was just as tall, but his shoulders were broader, and he wore no beard to hide the elegant angles of his sculpted face, his high cheekbones and sharp jawline, his sensual lips. He wore courtly clothes of purple velvet trimmed with silver, a high, narrow ruff at his throat. But his eyes—those brilliant summer-green eyes she had once so cherished—widened when his glance fell on her.

      The Queen’s Christmas Summons

      Amanda McCabe

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      AMANDA MCCABE wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen—a vast epic, starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class. She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA®, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers’ Best, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, one dog and one cat.

      Books by Amanda McCabe

      Mills & Boon Historical Romance

      and Mills & Boon Historical Undone! eBooks

      Bancrofts of Barton Park

      The Runaway Countess

      Running from Scandal Running into Temptation (Undone!)

      Linked by Character

      A Notorious WomanA Sinful AllianceHigh Seas StowawayShipwrecked and Seduced (Undone!)

      Stand-Alone Novels

      Betrayed by His Kiss

      The Demure Miss Manning The Queen’s Christmas Summons

      More Mills & Boon Historical Undone! eBooks by Amanda McCabe

      To Court, Capture and Conquer

      Girl in the Beaded Mask Unlacing the Lady in Waiting One Wicked Christmas An Improper Duchess A Very Tudor Christmas

      Visit the Author Profile page

      at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

      For Kyle, for three lovely years—so far

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Praise

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

       Prologue

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen