Lady of the Castle
Rachel Elwiss Joyce
Type: Beta project
Genre: Historical fiction
Word count: 150,000
Warnings: Graphic violence, graphic sexual content, swearing
England, 1185. Holding power in a man’s world is dangerous; holding faith in an intolerant one is deadly. Nicola de la Haye fights to hold her castle and fracturing marriage as Henry II’s sons tear England apart. Bella faces a deadlier threat: a murderous crusading fervour. Two women, their worlds unravelling. What do you love enough to sacrifice everything for? Please note: this book is over 120,000 words, so you will have three weeks to complete it, and the bonus will be £15.
England, 1185. A woman holding power in a man’s world is dangerous; to hold faith in an intolerant one is deadly. Nicola de la Haye, constable of Lincoln Castle, is determined to protect her family and her fortress from the political chaos sparked by the feuding sons of Henry II. But her greatest battles are fought within her own walls, as she navigates a fractured marriage and the ghosts of her past.
Miles away, Nicola’s childhood friend Bella, a wealthy Jewish mother, watches her world crumble as crusading fervour sweeps the nation. Stripped of their fortune, Bella’s family seeks refuge in York, only to find themselves trapped in a castle tower by a bloodthirsty mob demanding baptism or death.
As Richard the Lionheart’s crusade pulls England’s lords eastward and tears the kingdom’s loyalties apart, both women are forced to look into their hearts: what do they love so deeply that they would sacrifice everything for?
After a rewarding career in the sciences, Rachel returned to her first love—history and the art of storytelling. Fascinated by the women history neglected, or tried to forget, she creates meticulously researched, emotionally resonant fiction that brings their stories vividly to life.
Her fascination with the past began early, inspired by Ladybird books and the discovery of Katherine by Anya Seton as a teenager. The spark for her debut came when she discovered Nicola de la Haye—the first female sheriff of England, who defended Lincoln Castle against a French invasion. Rachel knew she had found her heroine.
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