Books like Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham
Hugh le Despenser, the son and great‑grandson of celebrated traitors, is compelled to marry the thirteen‑year‑old Bess de Montacute. Bess, shocked by Hugh’s tarnished lineage, resists—but Hugh must relinquish the woman he truly loves to honor the covenant. Their courtship, marked by distance and history, gradually softens as affection takes root. Yet the progress of their union is jeopardised by a merciless plague that imperils everyone dear to them. Set in historical Great Britain, the novel explores the complexities of man–woman relationships, the weight of inherited legacy, and the resilience of love amid catastrophe.
First publish date: 2007
Genre: Romance/Historical Romance
Authors: Susan Higginbotham
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