As it Pleases the King (The King's Pleasure) by Sara Harris ➱ Book Tour with Giveaway

As It Pleases the King

The King's Pleasure Book 1

by Sara Harris

Genre: Medieval Romance

February 1542, London

Catherine Howard, Queen Consort of England, faces the executioner's axe.

King Henry VIII needs a new wife.

Lady Bridget Denny and her cousin, Lady Elizabeth, have fallen into favor with His Majesty's groomsmen. They are taken to Court to be judged for the position of the next queen, but Bridget fears the title of Queen of England is little more than a royal death sentence. The woods surrounding the castle are deep and dark and hold many secrets-perhaps there is room for one more.

Bridget is determined to escape the lusty king. But can she survive his royal executioner?

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Tower Green Scaffold

February 13, 1542

I stood beside Elizabeth. The new emerald green shoes I’d

been given by my attending maids crunched in the thin

layer of frost that covered the ground. Earlier in my dressing

suite, one of the servants whispered that the color matched

that of my eyes. I wasn’t sure I believed her.

The newly risen sun did little to brighten the overcast sky that

cloaked the scaffold on the Tower Green.

“Never before have I seen so many people in one place,” Elizabeth

mused. “And here we are, in the front row to the Queen of

England’s execution.”

The fancy breakfast of quail’s eggs and French toast soured in

my stomach as Elizabeth chattered on, almost giddy. “Surely this

woman is the most hated of all His Majesty’s queens.”

Knots pushed burning bile into my throat. Still, Elizabeth continued.

“It has been widely whispered that even her own uncle,

the Duke of Norfolk, now despises her. He calls her, among many

other things, a common prostitute.”

Thankfully several people pushed between us, bound for the

scaffold, and saved me from having to respond to my cousin.

***

“Ladies!” The courtier clapped. “Come now,” he chirped, his face

and voice much too bright given the occasion. “Let us prepare

for the noon meal. You all must change in your given chambers,

then appear in the dining hall in one hour’s time.” He waved his

hands as though ushering cattle to slaughter. “Come come ladies!

Much to be done!”

I felt eyes on me, burning, as I let myself be pushed along with

the retreating crowd. Careful to keep a tight grip on Elizabeth’s

hand, I dared a glance over my shoulder. There on the scaffold

stood the masked executioner, the deadly double-headed axe at his

side. Scarlet liquid coated the edge and dripped from the sharp tip.

Drop after drop fell dramatically into the straw below.

I was powerless to break away from his piercing stare and could

only return it. His haunting image burned into my mind like a

portrait. My stomach turned up in knots as the space between us

widened. What is so captivating about this ruthless, hooded headsman?

***

From nowhere, a servant appeared and refilled my mug. English

wine rose to the brim, fuller and deeper scarlet than before.

I brushed a cocoa brown tendril of hair over my shoulder.

“Thank you, sir.”

He leaned close to my ear. “Compliments of the King.”

My heart slapped the inside of my chest and my breath came faster.

Perhaps he is sending drinks around to all the girls.

Careful not to call too much attention to myself, I turned slightly.

The redheaded girl from Surrey still mopped at her front and her

large, gray eyes watered just a bit. Sure enough, her mug was dry.

Elizabeth, lost in conversation with one of the twins from Dorset,

picked up her mug. Her familiar voice rang out across the table

like a beacon in my ears. “Do you suppose His Majesty would

think me impolite if I were to ask for a refill?” Obviously already

feeling the effects of the first helping, Elizabeth sniggered. “That

wine is the best to have ever passed my lips!”

King Henry is watching.

My heartbeat, loud before, quickened to a pulsing gallop in my

ears. The world spun around me and melted the dining hall into

a fresco of colors, faces, and gold-beaked peacocks, still wearing

their iridescent feathers. I squeezed shut my eyes and gripped the

side of my chair. Mother Mary, please intercede before I become ill.

Someone clapped sharp and quick and sent a hush of quiet over

my giggling tablemates. The courtier with the plume strode into

the dining hall. His shoes, shiny black, clipped like horse hooves

on a cobblestone street.

“Ladies.” He bowed a deep bow. “Once again, it is so good of

you all to have accepted the King’s invitation and come to Court.”

This is a tale of a Lady who escaped the King's clutches only to find herself in the arms of his executioner

From the pan to the fire

We have all heard the tales of Henry the VIII
His sexual hunger - His inflated ego - His cruelty - His penchant for games
Bridget only has to encounter the king once to know that she would rather chance her kneck in the darkened woods than atop the block

This is a fast-paced read that intertwines suspense with a love at first sight romance.
It was an interesting take on the time period.
The story was woven together in a way that it felt like small glimpses at the scenes. The actions that drove Bridget's choices and the results.
I do wish I had had more time and background to properly connect with the characters on a more personal level.
But alas time did not permit

Sara is a mother of four, animal lover and advocate, and conservationist. Little House on the Prairie, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and Lonesome Dove are among her favorite shows/movies and books. Sara holds her B.A. in History and is the author of the historical romance series, An Everlasting Heart, from 5 Prince Publishing and recently debuted into the children's book realm with Chunky Sugars (5 Prince Kids), written for her own chunky baby.

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