The AcclAimed Novel of elizAbeTh, eNglANd’s mosT PAssioNATe QueeN— ANd The Three meN Who loved her S U S A N K AY Copyright © 2010 by Susan Kay Cover and internal design © 2010 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover design by Pete Garceau Cover images © The Bridgeman Art Library Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious and used ficti- tiously. Apart from well-known historical figures, any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Published by Sourcebooks Landmark, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410 (630) 961-3900 Fax: (630) 961-2168 www.sourcebooks.com Originally published in 1985 by Crown Publishers, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kay, Susan. Legacy : the acclaimed novel of Elizabeth, England’s most passionate queen— and the three men who loved her / by Susan Kay. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603—Fiction. 2. Great Britain— History—Elizabeth, 1558-1603—Fiction. 3. Queens—Great Britain—Fiction. I. Title. PR6061.A937L4 2010 823’.914—dc22 2009050701 Printed and bound in the United States of America. VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For my husband, who encouraged me to complete this book Contents Acknowledgments ......................................ix Author’s Note .........................................xi Prologue ............................................. 1 Part 1: The Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Part 2: The Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187 Part 3: The Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317 Part 4: The Goddess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445 Part 5: The Effigy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .559 Epilogue ........................................... 643 Bibliography ........................................ 645 Reading Group Guide ................................. 647 About the Author .................................... 651 Acknowledgments I am indebted to mrs. Jane barton for her meticulous typing of my manuscript.