A Tapestry of Queens: A Story of Scotland's Struggle for Independence

A Tapestry of Queens gives us a view of three late 16th-century courts -- England, Scotland, and by extension France -- through the adventures of a heroine who is dressmaker/needlewoman to a succession of queens, from Katherine Howard to Catherine Parr, plus Marie de Guise to the north.

As Queen's Mercer, responsible for the wardrobes of royalty, Cordelia Shelton has had the good fortune to serve three of Henry VIII's wives. The execution of Kathryn Howard, however, has proven disastrous for Cordelia and her merchant husband, leaving Cordelia without a position at court and the family close to financial ruin.

Then, without warning, Cordelia's world is turned upside down. Although Scotland and England are on the brink of war, Marie de Guise, wife of James V of Scotland, has requested Cordelia's services as dressmaker. Cordelia's journey to Edinburgh leads her into a world of international intrigue and betrayal as she seeks to befriend both Marie de Guise and Catherine Parr -- the woman she realizes King Henry has chosen for his sixth wife. As the novel unfolds, Cordelia's intelligence, resolution, and skill with a needle prove essential for her survival.