Almost a Queen - Laura Du Pre - Wattpad

Almost a Queen

Reads 633
Votes 57
Parts 11
Time 1h 18m

Reads 633
Votes 57
Parts 11
Time 1h 18m

biographical catholic fiction france french history huguenots medici renaissance romance royal valois

Cousins to the King of Navarre, Marie of Cleves and her sisters make their mark on the royal court of Renaissance France.  A month into an unhappy marriage to her Protestant cousin, the Prince of Conde, the two are faced with a choice:  convert to Catholicism or die.

Marie's decision will alter the course of both their lives, drawing her further into a decadent and treacherous royal court.  Scandal and the hope for true love come her way, but will Marie make the right choice?  Is she truly destined for happiness?  Or will she become yet another scandal of the Valois court?

This 40,000 word novella is the first in a trilogy about the Cleves sisters, known during their lifetimes as "The Three Graces."  Updated every Wednesday.  

Comments and feedback are most welcome.  Thank you for taking the time to read my story.  Henriette's story will follow.

http://www.lauradupre.comAll Rights Reserved

biographical catholic fiction france french history huguenots medici renaissance romance royal valois

Table of contents

11 parts

Sign up to add Almost a Queen to your library and receive updates

or

Content Guidelines

You may also like

Mountains Vast and a Kingdom So Red by BaileyMadsWriter

Tags: Romantic Fantasy, Intrigue, Royal Family, Sexy shifter smex, Love triangle angst, Fierce characters Summary: Mikah Aux Duvrex, Princess of the country Aux Duvrex, lives on a planet in a far away solar system named Ganymede. She is eighteen years old and she paves her place in the world through training and quite frankly screwing up. Her world changes first when she falls in love with a handsome shifter and tilts on its axis again once she has to deal with a sudden illness in the royal family. Bestowed with the gift of magic, she begins to bond with her wand and she learns how to cast numerous spells that propel the plot forward: she leaves home to meet up with her shifter lover again in a realm called the Thewren Mountains. Blurb: Excellent for fans of GOT and the Sky Without Stars series by Jessica Brody Joanne Rendell! Look into this book if you are into a feminist hero who takes great risks to protect her family and stamp her legacy right in the Kingdoms's history. Excerpt: "This isn't fair. This isn't fucking fair! Father, you have a century's worth of fight left in you." I beat my hands against the bed, and stare at the King. Right in his lightless eyes. He raises his hand and strokes my hair. "The world does not play fair, daughter. The world plays in interest. Pour love into your brother and sister. I cannot chain you here, but I ask for your reason. No traveling." I nod, watching his hand grasp two capsules and depart.

To Catch A King by issyfh

'...The first thing I notice about him is his weight. The rumours are true: he is spoilt and fat, so different from the young Renaissance prince I have heard he once was. His padded garments only make him look swollen and stout, not stronger. His red hair is thinning and tinged grey, along with his beard... This is the man I must seduce.' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Winter 1539. The young, beautiful Catherine Howard leaves her residence to go and serve the future Queen of England, Anne of Cleves, a German Protestant. But beneath this seemingly simple task, a deeper and much more complex plot is at hand. Charged with the same task as her infamous cousin Anne Boleyn, Catherine must use all of her charm and wit to seduce King Henry VIII and save the Howards from permanent destruction. In this tale of intrigue, deception and injustice, the true story of Catherine Howard's rise and fall from power is told based on real historical events and people. Can Catherine betray a Queen and friend that she has grown fond of? Can she ever escape the curse of her family name and history? Can she catch the King before it is too late?

Daughters of the King (Completed) by Purplejeans

{WATTYS 2020 WINNER} {FEATURED BOOK} Paris, 1663. 500 girls selected by King Louis XIV embark on a journey across the seas from their homeland. Each is given a dowry, and the expectation that they are to marry a French settler, in order to increase the population of New France. They are the historic Daughters of the King, or "les filles du roi." Eighteen-year-old Celeste Dubois is a free-spirited, educated and headstrong girl. She comes from a wealthy Parisian family that has squandered their money and is subsequently forced to journey to New France. However, Celeste doesn't plan on marrying a complete stranger. She hopes to use the dowry and the free voyage as a way to escape the poverty and social ranks of Paris. Matters are complicated when against her will, she falls in love. Romantic, kind and stunningly beautiful Lorraine Leblanc is a girl from a large family with children to spare. Unlike Celeste, she happily dreams of the day she will meet her future husband in New France. When she marries a mysterious widower with two young children of his own and still reeling after his broken heart, she realizes that married life isn't all she had hoped it would be, and begins to question her new husband's complicated past. - Wattpad Picks Blast to the Future Past list 2018 - The 50 Best Wattpad Stories of 2018/19 by Design Wizard - 2018 Youngblood Awards Winner (Romance) - 2018 True North Awards 2nd place for Historical Fiction and 2nd place Truly Canadian special category award - Featured by Wattpad Historical Fiction profile under Kings, Courtships and Empires, Young Adult Fiction profile under Love, Actually and Romance profile under Time will Tell *Please be aware that since this book covers the colonial period, it does contain sensitive themes of racism and violence that readers will find disturbing. There are resources at the back of the book that prompt further learning in the Historical Notes section.*

Dowager (Hand in Hand Chronicles) by kullman

Widowed at the age of 10, Isabela of Valois is held captive by the men who killed her husband. Everyone that ever cared for her has either died, or given her away. Now she has to start again after losing two families, now a dowager queen. Widowed after marrying the usurper king of England, Joan of Navarre has two families to protect, her step children, and her biological children. She might even have to protect them from each other. Widowed at the age of 22 Catherine of Valois is the mother of a nine month old king. A marriage she never wanted to the butcher of her people has left her terrified but determined to make a new start. Ignored by history in favor of their more famous husbands, enjoy the incredible true stories of some of England's bravest queens. Trigger/Content: toxic relationships, SA discussed. Some suggestive dialogue. Sensual scenes. Some traumatic imagery.

Escape from the Sun King by joanmroberts

Escape from the Sun King tells the fictional story of the Guillet family, Robert, wife Ruth, son Roberto, daughter Sarah, and son Lucas who are Huguenot ( Protestant followers of John Calvin) living in Paris during the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) by Louis XIV the Sun King. This edict removes the right to worship their faith and gives the vicious dragonnades (soldier missionaries) the right to move in and persecute them in their own home. The family takes drastic action to survive and help others. Their daughter Sarah remains in Paris to look after the family's wealth and business interests by converting and marrying a Catholic. While her parents prepare to flee, she courts 3 prospective husbands and marries. Meanwhile one rejected suitor becomes obsessed with her and makes her life unbearable. The rest of the Guillet family bid their daughter farewell and begin their perilous journey to England. Family members face immense challenges including shipwreck, sexual assault, settling into a new country, starting a new business, indentured servitude, smuggling and fire. They meet their challenges despite all odds with close calls of capture by soldiers and tax collectors. For many of us, the Guillet are our ancestors. Although the characters are devout, this is not a book directed at a Christian audience. Instead, it is a story of courage and leadership faced by the people first described as refugees, especially the female members of the family. Light-hearted scenes include attending a ball at a grand house located on the Seine, a soiree at Versailles to meet the King and Madame Maintenon, a rescue at sea, smuggling on the Island of Jersey and interaction with a gang of ruffians in London.

FALLEN PETALS by AngelineGallant1

In the tumultuous backdrop of 16th-century France, the Lalemant family grapples with preserving their ancient beliefs amidst the rise of Catholicism. Lanecea, a timekeeper with the power to navigate history, is torn between her duty to protect her family's legacy and her forbidden love for Storm, the mortal embodiment of the god Cernunnos. As they unravel secrets buried deep within their lineage, they uncover a web of deception and ancient alliances that threaten everything they hold dear. When Gabriel, a member of the Lalemant family, defies his parents to marry the devout Madeleine, their union sets off a chain of events that places the family in grave danger. Amidst the shadows, Lanecea must harness her powers to alter destinies and protect those she loves. "Fallen Petals," the first book in the Guardian of the Heart series, is a tale of love, betrayal, and resilience. With their heritage hanging in the balance, will the Lalemant family succeed in preserving their legacy, or will they be lost to history? Prepare to be swept away in a tapestry of romance, intrigue, and the timeless quest for love and belonging. "Fallen Petals" sets the stage for a saga of love, loyalty, and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to follow their hearts.

Bound by Honor (Book 1 in the Legacy of Love Series) by Hoarder_of_books

"Bound by Honor" launches the Legacy of Love series in the tumultuous year of 1453, as the Hundred Years' War draws to its bitter close. Lady Isolde de Valcourt lives a life carefully measured by duty and honor, bound to her politically ambitious husband, Lord Edwin, in a marriage arranged for power rather than love. Her quiet acceptance of her fate is shattered when Sir Lucien Beaumont returns from the battlefields of Aquitaine, carrying both physical scars and the memory of a passion they once shared. As England's grip on France crumbles and the winds of war howl through castle corridors, Isolde finds herself caught between her sworn obligations and the undeniable pull of a love she thought long buried. Sir Lucien, though injured in body, remains unshaken in his devotion to both his country and the woman he has never stopped loving. Their forbidden romance blooms like a rose among thorns, each stolen moment weighted with the price of discovery. Against the backdrop of England's darkest hour, as territory and influence slip through noble fingers like sand, Isolde must make an impossible choice: remain faithful to her vows and title, or risk everything for a chance at true love. Set in a world where alliances shift like battlefields and hearts wage wars of their own, "Bound by Honor" weaves a tale of passion, duty, and the courage required to defy the bonds of convention. As the first installment in the Legacy of Love series, it sets in motion an epic saga spanning centuries, where the eternal struggle between duty and desire shapes the destinies of generations to come.

Dear Amalia - old version, unedited by emesklyde

Just like the story of Romeo and Juliet, their families hated each other. But their story isn't like that. They don't meet and then expect to fall for one another. There are two parts of the country of Vera. The North Kingdom and the South Kingdom. Two people who are expected to hate each other, bond over a war. Would this war lead their rivalry to love? Or would it just lead them to death? Sometimes it's hard to control your emotions. But its harder to stop falling in love with the person you once hated. This story is inspired by one of Shakespeare's greatest works, Romeo and Juliet. Completed. © Copyright 2019 by Kly. All Rights Reserved.

Forbidden love by theblondeone029

Corinne is the princess of France,she was in line to be Queen but with not wanting to have that kind of responsibility,she gave the crown to her younger brother Louis when she turned sixteen. Now 24 years of age she decides to take up sword lessons,wanting to learn how to wield a rapier,so her brother the king brings in the best swordsman in the Musketeer regiment;Athos. Over time the two of them fall in love with each other,the only problem is it is forbidden for a princess to court a musketeer and the same with Athos. Forbidden love trope. Goes through the one year before the film so 1624 but it changes quickly THIS STORY IS MATURE AND HAS SMUT SO NO UNDER 18's PLEASE THANK YOU!!!!!

BTT x Reader | BloodXLust by CrystalRouge

How does a curious, world traveling, demisexual end up in a polyamorous relationship with a trio of lustful vampires? It starts with a broken down car, a Renaissance fair, a burglar and a scary movie. •updates every week •will be divided into parts •100+ chapters •I take suggestions Includes •Lemons •PruSpa, Frain, PruHun, AusHun, FraPru, and more •2p and Nyo characters •Accurate timelines for character histories •Sexual themes, mentions of rape, violence and angst •In depth backstories •Multilingual •Insight on trauma, nightmares, recovery, sexuality, abuse, gender dysphoria and mental disabilities Word Count: 250,000-300,000

You may also like

Slide 1 of 10

Mountains Vast and a Kingdom So Red cover

To Catch A King cover

Daughters of the King (Completed) cover

Dowager (Hand in Hand Chronicles) cover

Escape from the Sun King cover

FALLEN PETALS cover

Bound by Honor (Book 1 in the Legacy of Love Series) cover

Dear Amalia - old version, unedited cover

Forbidden love cover

BTT x Reader | BloodXLust cover

Mountains Vast and a Kingdom So Red

Tags: Romantic Fantasy, Intrigue, Royal Family, Sexy shifter smex, Love triangle angst, Fierce characters Summary: Mikah Aux Duvrex, Princess of the country Aux Duvrex, lives on a planet in a far away solar system named Ganymede. She is eighteen years old and she paves her place in the world through training and quite frankly screwing up. Her world changes first when she falls in love with a handsome shifter and tilts on its axis again once she has to deal with a sudden illness in the royal family. Bestowed with the gift of magic, she begins to bond with her wand and she learns how to cast numerous spells that propel the plot forward: she leaves home to meet up with her shifter lover again in a realm called the Thewren Mountains. Blurb: Excellent for fans of GOT and the Sky Without Stars series by Jessica Brody Joanne Rendell! Look into this book if you are into a feminist hero who takes great risks to protect her family and stamp her legacy right in the Kingdoms's history. Excerpt: "This isn't fair. This isn't fucking fair! Father, you have a century's worth of fight left in you." I beat my hands against the bed, and stare at the King. Right in his lightless eyes. He raises his hand and strokes my hair. "The world does not play fair, daughter. The world plays in interest. Pour love into your brother and sister. I cannot chain you here, but I ask for your reason. No traveling." I nod, watching his hand grasp two capsules and depart.