Autumn 1559, pages 256 - 289 Summary

It is the Autumn of 1559, and Robert Dudley is planning a grand woodland hunt for his lover, the Queen. While he is at court, he watches William Cecil deliver some private news to Queen Elizabeth and sees her face fall. As soon as he can, Robert approaches his lover to find out just what is wrong, and the Queen tells him that she must give him up as a lover, but begs him to remain her friend. William Cecil has learned that there is a new plot against the Queen, and that it not only includes an assassination attempt on her life but on the life of Robert Dudley as well. It is now common knowledge that Dudley and Elizabeth are lovers and can go nowhere without each other.

Distraught, the Queen admits that she will have to marry...