About the book, from the publisher:
The revealing story of Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved governess, Marion Crawford, who spent more than sixteen years of her life in loyal service to the royal family and was later shunned by those she has loved and served.Visit Tessa Arlen's website.
Marion Crawford can remember each of the wonderful years when she was governess to the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose: included in their lives, confided in, needed, trusted, and loved. These memories will never dim, ever. In Marion’s mind, she will always be their Crawfie.
But things become increasingly complicated as the young royals navigate adulthood. It is May 1945 and Princess Elizabeth–the heiress presumptive to the British throne–has fallen in love, and the only member of her family who is happy for her is her governess. No one in the young princess’s life thinks that Prince Philip of Greece would be a suitable husband for the future Queen of England. No one that is, except for Marion Crawford.
Crawfie wholeheartedly supports Elizabeth in her determination to marry Philip. She too has fallen in love–and has convinced her fiancĂ©, George, that they must wait for Elizabeth and Philip to receive the King’s blessing before she can leave her service to the Crown.
Over the next two years Crawfie is caught between loyalty to Princess Elizabeth; running the risk of alienating her royal employer, Queen Elizabeth; and losing the man she loves. But as Crawfie prevails to marry George and stands with him in Westminster Abbey on Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding day, she is unaware that her troubled relationship with Queen Elizabeth is far from over. And just around the corner is a betrayal that will sever her bond with the royal family forever.
See Tessa Arlen’s top five historical novels.
Coffee with a Canine: Tessa Arlen & Daphne.
The Page 69 Test: Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman.
My Book, The Movie: Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman.
The Page 69 Test: Death Sits Down to Dinner.
My Book, The Movie: Death Sits Down to Dinner.
The Page 69 Test: A Death by Any Other Name.
The Page 69 Test: Death of an Unsung Hero.
Writers Read: Tessa Arlen (November 2019).
The Page 69 Test: Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders.
Q&A with Tessa Arlen (April 2020).
The Page 69 Test: Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers.
Q&A with Tessa Arlen (December 2020).
--Marshal Zeringue