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Magdalene la Batarde is a beautiful woman, which is an advantage in a whore mistress. In the year 1139 Stephen is King of England, though there are fears that the Empress Maud plans to contest his sovereignty. Her father, King Henry I, made the nobles swear to support Maud as Queen of England after his death. One of Stephen's most important noblemen is William of Ypres, who is Magdalene's patron. Her high-class brothel is in Southwark, near London. When William asks her to travel to Oxford she of course agrees. Magdelene has often served as a cover for William to meet with anyone he needs to meet with discreetly. Magdelene's lover Sir Bellamy is jealous of her relationship with William, but she will not abandon her life to be anyone's wife. In Oxford Magdelene rents the rear of a brothel run by an old friend and sets it up so William can meet with whom he needs. Stephen is holding court in Oxford and important events are happening. Much hinges on whether the Bishop of Salisbury, one of the most powerful men in the kingdom, comes to court as Stephen wishes. Stephen suspects the Bishop may be falling into Maud's camp. Lesser events are also occurring, such as a man courting a woman. William's man, Sir Niall Arvagh, has been sent by William to court Loveday of Otmoor, an heiress who is ward to King Stephen. Niall brings Loveday to Magdelene to hide her after a rough man shows up with a forged betrothal agreement. The rough one is Aimery St. Cyr, whose master is Lord Waleran de Meulan, a rival to Lord William of Ypres. Next morning St. Cyr is found murdered, and Niall is accused. William wants to know who murdered St. Cyr because, since Niall is his man, William is suspected of being involved to cause trouble with Lord Waleran. Bone of Contention is the third in this excellent series by Roberta Gellis. Gellis creates excellent characters in Magdelene, Bell, William, Loveday, and others. She also believably creates the world of 12th century England. Occasionally the politics of the time are a little difficult to follow and convolute the plot, but the kinks get worked out by the end. Bone of Contention is an excellent and recommended book.
Reviewed by Mary A. Axford, October 2002
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