How would a young king come to choose a sheltered country girl as his mistress?How does a man of God become a man of war?In feudal England, how might you stop the king from abusing your rights?Why would a family move halfway around the world, leaving the life they knew?How can a mighty king balance the demands of his faith with military leadership?How can the survivor of a horrible siege come to terms with living after so many had died?What could the most powerful women in the western world possibly need when she retires?These and other questions confront the characters of Rule! Their stories extend from the late 700s through the 1800s in Britain, Europe, and India. Historically accurate, this book views the rise and fall of great European empires through the eyes and lives of individuals.Rule! is the second book in the Helena's Stories series, which brings personal points of view to history.Promise, which comes next, will complete the book series with stories set in America from colonial times into the twentieth century.