Her beauty was a blessing...and a dangerous burden...As a Maid of Honor at the Court of King Henry VIII, beautiful Alice Petherton receives her share of admirers. But when the powerful, philandering Sir Richard Rich attempts to seduce her, she knows she cannot thwart his advances for long. She turns to the most powerful man in England for protection: the King himself. As beautiful as she is intelligent, Alice easily captures the King's interest. He takes her to bed on the day of his son Edward's birth. But the King is capricious, and he casts out Alice when Queen Jane dies. Although Alice knows well the risk of becoming the King's wife, it isn't long before she charms her way back into Court and the King's heart. The challenge is remaining his favorite while avoiding the dangers of becoming his next bride. Reveling in her newfound power, Alice soon forgets that enemies lurk behind every corner at court...and there are some who are eagerly plotting her fall...