Unmasked (2005) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Greysteel (Robert) Montgomery: The hero of this story. Betrothed at 13 to Elizabeth Cavendish. Rich when he was young, a captain in the Royalist army later, imprisoned and then used as a spy.
• Velvet (Elizabeth) Cavendish: Rich and spoiled when young and, although betrothed at 7 to Greysteel, she continued to plan to marry Charles II, a prince at that time. Precocious, often referred to as a "throwback" to a great-grandmother Bess Hardwick.
• Alex Greysteel Montgomery: Earl of Eglington, Robert's father, a widower.
• William Cavendish: Elizabeth's father, Viscount Mansfield of Nottingham, an owner of much land. Cousin to the Earl of Devonshire.
• Charles Stuart: Eventually became king, but exiled for years. Velvet always hoped to marry Charles when she got older.
• Minette: A princess, (Henriette Anne) sister to Charles II; lived in Saint-Germain Palace with other Royalist exiles.
• Lady Margaret Lucas: Eventually married Velvet's father after he was widowed; she never liked Velvet.
• George Monck: A general in Cromwell's army, once a Royalist. He held Greysteel prisoner and released him only so he could act as a secret agent to London.
• Emma: Velvet's companion from Belgium to England.
• Christian Bruce: Lady Cavendish, 60, Dowager countess, mother of the Earl of Devonshire. Velvet went to live with her in England. It was from Christian that Graysteel Montgomery bought Roehampton. She was also a friend of Henrietta Maria, Charles II's mother.
• Samuel Lawson: A goldsmith in London at the Temple, used by Greysteel when money issues needed to be handled.
• Mr. Burke: Christian's steward; trusted for many things.
• Bess Hardwick: Velvet's great-grandmother, a woman who had four husbands before she was 35, knew how to control men and wrote a journal that Velvet read and tried to learn by.
• Seaman Spencer: A quartermaster on a frigate; a courier to Greysteel.
• Will Cavendish: A grandson of Christian, 18 yrs. old, a distant relative to Velvet. Not nice; forced himself on Velvet.
• Bertha Clegg: The housekeeper-cook at Roehampton whom Greysteel kept; married to Alfred who took care of the horses.
• Will Cavendish: Christian's son, the Earl of Devonshire and the cousin to Velvet's father. Married to a quiet woman, Elizabeth.
• Henry: King Charles's younger brother, the Duke of Gloucester; he contracted smallpox.
• Princess Mary: Charles's eldest sister, living in The Hague; sailed to London after her brother died.

Quotes edit see section history

• “You have passed the test. The test of unswerving loyalty.”

  George Monck to Greysteel just before bargaining: freedom for spying.

• “I have made arrangements to sell Roehampton to Greysteel Montgomery, heir to the Earl of Eglington.”

  Christian Bruce to her grandson when he wanted to have her give him Roehampton.

• “You filthy coward! You betrayed Charles, you betrayed your country, and you betrayed me!”

  Velvet to Greysteel after reading the letter he'd written.

• “While I give you liberty, I will not have my own taken from me. I have always used that form of service, which I think the best in the world, and have never discontinued it in places where it is more disliked than I hope it is by you.”

  Charles, at his coronation, when asked to discontinue using the Prayer Book.

• “The Earl of Eglington may relinquish all claim to my dowry, but I certainly do not! Twenty thousand pounds, wasn't it? Now that I'm a lady of the Court, I shall need a little spending money. don't delay -- after all I'm not getting any younger.”

  Velvet to her father after he heard of her marriage to Greysteel.

• “Your attempt at blackmail is pathetic. You will get Roehampton over my dead body!”

  Velvet to Cav (Will Cavendish) after he threatened her.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Nottingham Castle, 1644: Where Robert Montgomery (Greysteel) was betrothed at 13 to 7-yr.-old Elizabeth Cavendish (Velvet).
• Northumberland, 1657: Where Robert, now a captain at 26, was trying to help get the crown of England restored to his friend, Charles ((. This battle, though, ended in his surrender and imprisonment.
• Bruges, Belgium: Where Charles Stuart lived, in exile.
• Christian's home: In London, a grand home in Bishopsgate. This is where Velvet, who was bored in Belgium, was invited to live; she accepted.
• Roehampton: A manor house and estate with Elizabethan origins belonging to Christian Bruce. Velvet loved it, and Greysteel was able to buy it from Christian. Its 12 acres had a lake and it was near to London. Inside, there were polished oak floors, leaded windows and high-beamed ceilings.
• Whitehall: Where King Charles II held a gathering upon his return to the throne.

First Sentence edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Virginia Henley (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

There are numerous sexual scenes; this is not for young people.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Authors, A-Z › ( H ) › Henley, Virginia
• Books › Romance › Historical