In the Palace of the King

Cold November rain surrounds the Madrid palace where Maria Dolores de Mendoza works on a letter for Don John of Austria. Her love for the King's half brother has grown through private meetings on a rose-filled terrace, helped by her blind sister Inez. Their father, a stern servant of Philip II, fears that royal marriage plans could bring disgrace to his family. Affection and obedience therefore pull Dolores in different directions.

F. Marion Crawford's historical romance turns palace rooms, guarded doors and whispered exchanges into sources of suspense. In one scene, Dolores hears the King arrive while she and Don John speak through a closed door, linking their private attachment to larger questions of royal power. The detailed furnishings and sharply drawn family relationships give readers a picture of court life shaped by ceremony, loyalty and anxiety. It suits readers interested in a love story under the pressure of political authority.