Doublet Affair by Fiona Buckley (1999, Paperback)

This book is the second in a series that draws you into the court of Queen Elizabeth 1. Its trials and tribulations, its intrigue and suspense, its passion and presence. There is enough historical detail in the book to make you feel that you are really there.... Watching an England fold in on itself and recover from fire, famine, and religious fervor - with only the lion heart of one, young, "illegitimate" queen standing at the helm. She must use everything she has to stay in power and save her country. Luckily, she has an ace up her sleeve in the form of Ursula Blanchard, herself an illegitimate daughter of noble men. Read while your imagination is drawn into a power play between the queen and the supporters of "the one true faith" and into the life of the agent that must constantly ignore her own hearts desires, for the love and loyalty of her young queen. Ursula goes into the home of suspected supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots and her intention of ruling the English throne under "the true faith" and lives with them. Murder is afoot! And, it's a race against time to piece together the evidence with her new skills as a spy for the court. What is this house hiding? And, how dangerous is it to her queen?