Hugh and Bess

Praise for
The Traitor's Wife

  “A noblewoman pays the price for her

  loyalty to an unpopular king and her unfaithful

  husband…conveys emotions and relationships

  quite poignantly…entertaining historical fiction.”

  —Kirkus Discoveries

  “The dialogue is excellent, the characters are

  well formed and vibrant… Higginbotham's talents

  lie not only in her capacity for detailed genealogical

  research of the period, but also in her skill in

  bringing these historical figures to life with passion,

  a wonderful sense of humor, honor, and love.”

  —Historical Novels Review Online

  “Higginbotham has stirred to life a girl who is

  naïve and passionate, impulsive and loyal…an

  endearing, involving story, made so by the

  unconventional characters of Eleanor and Edward.”

  —Reviewer's Choice

  “Higginbotham makes history come alive…
The Traitor's

 
Wife
is a tale of intrigue, betrayal, loyalty and passion.”

  —BookPleasures

  “All the ingredients for a great tale: [love], treason,

  war and murder. Couple this with Higginbotham's

  clear passion and knack for accuracy, and this book

  is a can’t miss…this novel was a joy to read.”

  —Read and Review

  “Beautifully researched and incredibly

  captivating,
The Traitor's Wife
is a book you won’t

  want to put down. Susan Higginbotham's vivid portrayal

  of life during Edward II's tumultuous reign makes for

  fascinating reading. Highly recommended!”

  —Michelle Moran, bestselling author of
The Heretic Queen

  “Once I began
The Traitor's Wife
, I couldn’t stop. When

  the electricity went out one night, I actually found

  myself reading by flashlight!”

  —Sharon Kay Penman, bestselling author of
Devil's Brood

  “
The Traitor's Wife
brings to vibrant life a woman

  of determination and courage, who became entangled

  in the colorful, often lethal intrigues of Edward II's court.

  A captivating, well-paced read, full of the dramatic

  passions of an era that has often been written about but

  never from this particular point of view. Readers will

  flock to the wit and verve of Eleanor de Clare.”

  —C. W. Gortner, author of
The Last Queen

  “With each new layer, this tremendously researched

  novel just keeps getting better. A worthy mate

  to Marlowe's play
Edward II
, Higginbotham shows

  the subtle side of pain.”

  —David Blixt, author of
The Master of Verona

  “Susan Higginbotham has delved into a dark

  period of English history and given us a more sympathetic

  look at a king of dubious reputation—Edward II.”

  —Anne Easter Smith, author of
A Rose for the Crown

  “In scope, historical accuracy, and authoritative

  voice, this novel reads like really good biography. In

  dramatic force it reads like exceptional fiction. The

  maelstrom of death and destruction set in motion by the

  avarice, betrayal, and revenge prevalent in the

  English court of Edward II is a cautionary tale of

  human frailty skillfully delivered.”

  —Brenda Rickman Vantrease, author of
The Illuminator

  and
The Mercy Seller

  “In
The Traitor's Wife
, Susan Higginbotham brings

  the rich tapestry of Edward II's reign alive

  in brilliant tones of humor and intimacy in a

  sweeping tale of medieval passion. Scholarly,

  witty, thoroughly enjoyable!”

  —Jeri Westerson, author of
Veil of Lies: A Medieval Noir

  “An exhaustively-researched journey into the realm of

  Edward II, with all its deviousness, sordidness and passion.”

  —Erika Mailman

  Copyright © 2007, 2009 by Susan Higginbotham

  Cover and internal design © 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

  Cover design by Kimberly Glyder

  Cover image © Cristofano Allori/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 or are used fictitiously. 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 2007 by Onslow Press

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Higginbotham, Susan.

  Hugh and Bess / by Susan Higginbotham.

  p. cm.

  Includes bibliographical references and index.

  1. Montagu, Elizabeth, Lady, ca. 1327-1359—Fiction. 2. Le Despenser, Hugh, Baron, 1308-1349—Fiction. 3. Great Britain—History—Edward III, 1327-1377—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3608.I364H84 2009

  813’.6—dc22

  2009014952

  Printed and bound in the United States of America.
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

 
Contents

 
Dedication

 
Prologue

 
Chapter I: January 1341 to April 1341

 
Chapter II: October 1326 to March 1327

 
Chapter III: June 1341: Hanley Castle

 
Chapter IV: June 1341: Tewkesbury

 
Chapter V: August 1341 to July 1342

 
Chapter VI: July 1342 to March 1343

 
Chapter VII: January 1344

 
Chapter VIII: November 1346 to August 1347

 
Chapter IX: June 1348 to February 1349

 
Chapter X: April 1349 to January 1350

 
Author's Note

 
The Traitor's Wife

 
Acknowledgments

 
Reading Group Guide

 
About the Author

 
To my readers