Books like The Lady Penelope by Sally Varlow

A concise historical exploration of Mary Boleyn, the lesser-known sister of Anne, set within the Tudor court of 1508–1543.

The drama of Elizabeth I's tumultuous romance with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, as depicted in Giles Lytton Strachey’s historical novel, chronicling the court intrigue and love triangle of the Tudor era. An exploration of Elizabeth’s twilight years and the dramatic consequences of her forbidden love for the powerful and handsome Essex, this historical novel captures the essence of Elizabethan court and the complex dynamics of power, love, and politics. The book delves into Elizabeth's personal journey and the political machinations that shaped her final years, offering a fascinating glimpse into the tumultuous period of Elizabethan England.

A short story by Wilkie Collins in which a woman grasps her husband's possible innocence after a Scottish Verdict of "Not Proven."

Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. Left with her father’s massive debts, she has only twelve weeks to save her family from ruin. Kitty has never been one to back down from a challenge, so she leaves home and heads toward the most dangerous battleground in all of England: the London season. Kitty may be neither accomplished nor especially genteel—but she is utterly single-minded; imbued with cunning and ingenuity, she knows that risk is just part of the game. The only thing she doesn’t anticipate is Lord Radcliffe. The worldly Radcliffe sees Kitty for the mercenary fortune-hunter that she really is and is determined to scotch her plans at all costs, until their parrying takes a completely different turn... This is a frothy pleasure, full of brilliant repartee and enticing wit—one that readers will find an irresistible delight.

Explore the political power, intrigue, and personal ambitions of Queen's ladies‑in‑waiting across Britain, from courtly competition to royal mistresses, through diaries and contemporary accounts.

Alison Weir unveils the extraordinary life of Katherine Swynford, the royal mistress whose marriage to John of Gaunt forged the Beaufort line and laid the foundation for the Houses of York, Tudor, and Stuart.

Honor Larke, a young lady-in-waiting in 1527 London, chooses service over marriage and becomes entangled in court intrigue, romance, and danger as she navigates the perilous politics surrounding Henry VIII, Queen Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn.

When reclusive novelist Vida Winter’s health wanes, she tasks biographer Margaret Lea with revealing the truth of her life, though Margaret must sift through Winter’s penchant for exaggeration to arrive at facts.