Hello, My Name is Kat by E. Knight

Dear Reader,

Many of you have heard of my sister, Jane Grey—but you probably know her best as The Nine Days Queen. For that is just as long as her reign as Queen of England lasted, before she was taken down by a Tudor (oh, but the blood of the Tudors runs thick, strong and vehemently through their blood.) 

You may not have even known that she had a sister, let alone two. Poor little Mary… Her life was filled with hardship too, but I digress, and more importantly, poor Jane. I’m not sure she truly expected to ever be queen. I didn’t expect it. She reminded me much of the queens of old. In her regal bearing, I glimpsed a touch of my great-uncle, Henry VIII. She appeared relaxed and comfortable in her new state. After all, she had been born and bred as a royal princess, and I do believe my father had had this plan in mind from the moment the midwife had slapped her newborn bottom.

Nevertheless, this story is a lot less about Jane, than it is about me. My truth. Huh. I never thought to have my story told, for certainly throughout history—if you don’t count the Elizabethan poem written about mine and Ned’s tragic tale (buried in obscurity)—I’ve been mostly ignored. Well, not anymore!

I have served three queens in my life. One was my sister, one was my savior, and one my bitterest enemy.

I’ve seen a queen fall from power in just nine days. I’ve watched a queen die of heartbreak and neglect. And I’ve threatened a queen with my very existence, for I, too, am of royal blood.

And yet, for most of my life, I’ve done the bidding of queens. I’ve nodded my head, curtsied, acquiesced, given up my hopes and dreams. Mourned the death of loved ones taken before their time. Even in the face of brutal loss, I have listened and obeyed, understanding that, in all things, the sovereign always wins.

But I tell you, the queen has not won this time. Even now, at the hour of my death, I have prevailed over her. There are those who see me as her victim, but I have triumphed where others failed. You see, my love has conquered the commands of a royal crown.

For love, I carved for myself a little peace and happiness from this life, and what love I have known makes it all worthwhile. It was mine. It is still mine, this love. Love that I would never have known if I were a queen. Love that the queen herself has never known and never will.

So I shall rejoice, knowing that I would do it all once more. Knowing that there are some things in this life that we cannot let another control. We cannot bend to another’s will at the risk of losing who we are. We must defy them. Keep sacred the matters of our hearts, our very souls. And that is why not even death will take this victory from me. My love, my private triumph, will live on even when I am gone.

For I am Lady Katherine Grey, and this is my story...

You see, this is a love story. Tragic and exhilarating. Brutal and harsh. Sad as it is full of joy. I’d do it all over again. Every time. Even knowing the outcome. Because to have loved is better than never having known love at all.

Peace and love be with you always,
Kat

About the Author

E. Knight is a member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America and several RWA affiliate writing chapters: Hearts Through History, Celtic Hearts, Maryland Romance Writers and Washington Romance Writers. Growing up playing in castle ruins and traipsing the halls of Versailles when visiting her grandparents during the summer, instilled in a love of history and royals at an early age. Feeding her love of history, she created the popular historical blog, History Undressed (www.historyundressed.com). Under the pseudonym Eliza Knight, she is a bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author of historical and erotic romance.

For more information please visit E. Knight’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

About her book

I have served three queens in my life. One was my sister, one was my savior, and one my bitterest enemy.

Knowing she was seen as a threat to the Queen she served, Lady Katherine Grey, legitimate heir to the throne, longs only for the comfort of a loving marriage and a quiet life far from the intrigue of the Tudor court. After seeing her sister become the pawn of their parents and others seeking royal power and then lose their lives for it, she is determined to avoid the vicious struggles over power and religion that dominate Queen Elizabeth’s court. Until she finds love—then Kat is willing to risk it all, even life in prison.