Conspiracy

Conspiracy is a theme from the beginning of the story as the reader sees that Jane's father is plotting with others to position their children in relationships that will put them on the throne. There were several reasons the parents wanted this:

The queen would hold the political power of the kingdom. Since women of the era were typically subservient to men, it stood to reason that the queens would take council from the men in their lives, such as their father, father-in-law, or husband. The fathers relished the idea of having that political power.

With the kingdom comes great wealth. Having a child become a monarch would guarantee a healthy income for everyone in the family.

The royal family took great pride in their social, political, and religious status. It was an honor to be a princess, prince, queen, or king. For Jane's mother, it...