The Maid of Honour

the long version

There was only one man at the court of King Charles II that Miss Mary Hook could contemplate marrying. Prince Rupert was undoubtedly the most interesting, most intelligent, most honourable, chivalrous and handsome man at Court. If only she could find a man like him, but attainable, and country-loving, with no desire to spend his life at Whitehall. Perhaps she had, and thrown away her chance when she had refused to marry Francis Hartwell. He had saved her from the plague, but she would not marry him out of gratitude. Now she realised what she had thrown away, could she, dare she, say to him that she had changed her mind?