The Virgin's Lover by Graeme Malcolm, Philippa Gregory (2006, Abridged, Compact Disc)

Amy Robsart, the favorite daughter of a wealthy provincial, marries for love, a rather remarkable achievement in 16th Century England, especially since her husband, the dashing, ambitious and worldly Robert Dudley, seems to return her affections. Times change, however, and Amy’s loyalty is tested severely, enduring disgrace when her new husband’s father is found guilty of treason by Queen Mary and jealousy when his reputation is later resurrected by his childhood playmate, Queen Elizabeth. Refusing to believe that absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder, Amy denies how far apart she and her husband grow during the first year of Elizabeth’s reign, remaining steadfastly on her farm while Dudley becomes the Queen’s inseparable court favorite.

As usual, Gregory’s facts are well-researched. Abundant historical evidence suggests that Dudley and Elizabeth were almost certainly lovers and that neither party was beyond conspiring to bring on Amy’s untimely death. Conspiracies abounded, in fact, as people jockeyed for the new Queen’s political and romantic favor, and Gregory gives readers an insider’s view of many of them.