Katherine - Tudor Duchess

Book excerpt: "Attractive, wealthy and influential, Katherine Willoughby is one of the most unusual ladies of the Tudor court. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Katherine knows all his six wives, his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and his son Edward, as well as being related by marriage to Lady Jane Grey. She marries Tudor knight, Sir Charles Brandon, and becomes Duchess of Suffolk at the age of fourteen. Her Spanish mother, Maria de Salinas, is Queen Catherine of Aragon's lady in waiting, so it is a challenging time for them all when King Henry marries the enigmatic Anne Boleyn. Following Anne's dramatic downfall, the short reign of young Catherine Howard, and the tragic death of Jane Seymour, Katherine's young sons are tutored with the future king, Prince Edward, and become his friends. Katherine and Charles Brandon are chosen to welcome Anna of Cleves as she arrives in England. When the royal marriage is annulled, Katherine's good friend, Catherine Parr becomes the king's sixth wife, and they work to promote religious reform. When King Edward dies, his Catholic sister Mary is crowned queen and Katherine's Protestant faith puts her family in great danger - from which there seems no escape."--Provided by publisher.