The Tragedy of Lady Jane Grey by Olivia Rae

Many years ago while touring the Tower of London, I learned the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey.  After the death of King Edward VI (King Henry VIII’s son), the English Crown should have gone to his older half-sister, Mary Tudor. But King Edward VI was a Protestant and relied heavily on his regent, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Mary was a Catholic and declared illegitimate when King Henry VIII divorced Catharine of Argon, Mary’s mother. Dudley persuaded Edward VI to change the order of succession so that another Protestant relative would become queen: his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, who happened to be married to Dudley’s youngest son.

When young Edward died, Dudley quickly moved to put fifteen-year-old, Jane on the throne. But the English people would not have it and nine days later, Mary Tudor became the queen of England. Poor Jane (who never wanted to be queen) was executed for treason. I wondered why would God allow such a thing to happen?

Soon after learning this tragic tale, I started to read everything I could get my hands on about Lady Jane Grey. Not only did she have a tragic death, but she had a sad life. Her parents looked upon her as a tool to be used to gain prominence at court. She never wanted to marry John Dudley’s son and, at first, fought to deny the English Crown. She was highly educated and a devoted Protestant. Even at a young age, she died with dignity. The prologue in my new book, A Life Renewed, includes Lady Jane’s exact last words. Her very last sentence she quoted Jesus. “Lord into your hands I commend my spirit.” It is astounding that such a young woman would die with so much grace and faith.  I like to believe that some who witnessed her penitent death were brought to know Jesus that day.

Moved and inspired, I decided to give her life. In my book, Jane doesn’t die, but is whisked away to a French Convent where later she is rescued by a couple of German lords. Does she live happily-ever-after? Not right away. She’s used by a German prince and stalked by the English assassin, Asher Hayes. But love and faith do conquer all. And yes, my Lady Jane Grey does get a chance at a happily-ever-after life.

 

 

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, “The Nine Days’ Queen” was executed for high treason. But what if, instead of feeling the blade on her neck she secretly survived? 

Escaping execution, Lady Jane hides as a peasant girl in a principality in Germany. She loves the simple life and never wants to return to England. But her benefactor, a power-hungry German prince, wants to march on London and place her on the English throne again, thereby increasing his dominance in Europe. If she doesn’t agree with his plan, her beloved childhood nurse will be put to death. Desperate for help, Jane must put her trust in the mysterious spy Asher Hayes.

Asher Hayes is done rounding up Protestants for “Bloody Mary” and wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as a farmer and expunge the blood of many from his hands. Except Queen Mary isn’t done with him yet. She throws his father, mother, and sister into prison on false charges in order to force him to accept one last mission – find and kill Lady Jane Grey. But when Asher discovers Lady Jane isn’t a threat to the throne as he believed her to be, he faces a devastating decision – does he sacrifice his family for the woman who reigns in his heart?

 

 

Olivia Rae is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary inspirational romance. She spent her school days dreaming of knights, princesses and far away kingdoms; it made those long days in the classroom go by much faster. Nobody was more shocked than her when she decided to become a teacher. Besides getting her Master’s degree, marrying her own prince, and raising a couple of kids, Olivia decided to breathe a little more life into her childhood stories.

Olivia is the winner of the Angel Awards, Book Buyer’s Best Award, Southern Magic Award, New England Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill Award, the American Fiction Award, and the Illumination Awards.