Acknowledgments
I want to acknowledge Rachel Hiebert, a courageous sixteen-year-old battling leukemia, and Jess Doerksen, her sweet cousin and a reader of my books, for writing to me and keeping up with the Hagenheim residents. May God bless you both, and I hope you like Margaretha’s story!
My biggest cheerleader, Regina Carbulon, who always prays for my writing, with me, and for me.
Friends, beta readers, and critique partners Katie Clark, Carol Moncado, Carrie Pagels, for helping me fine tune the story, and my awesome daughters and helpful first readers, Grace and Faith Dickerson.
My wonderful editor, Jacque Alberta, who seems to have a supernatural sense of what needs to be extracted, tweaked, and added to make the story better.
And last but not least, Brittany Elsen, Sara Bierling, and Adriana Gwyn, who helped me get my German words and phrases correct. I am so grateful to you! And so grateful to everyone who helped with this story. Thank you so much!
Discussion questions for The Princess Spy
1. At the beginning of the story, Margaretha is trying to convince herself Lord Claybrook could be a good match for her. Do you think Margaretha would have married Claybrook if Colin hadn’t arrived? Why or why not?
2. Colin’s original plan was to chase down Lord Claybrook and bring him to task for his crimes. Do you feel this plan would have been successful? Could John have done anything to deter Colin or change his approach?
3. When they first meet, Colin thinks Margaretha is a flibbertigibbet, and Margaretha thinks Colin is addled and impulsive. Do you think there is any truth in these first impressions? What leads you to that conclusion? How did the events of the story impact each characters’ behavior?
4. Throughout the story, Margaretha disparages herself because she tends to talk too much. Is this as negative a quality as she and her brothers seem to make it? How might her talkativeness been perceived in the 1300s, when the story is set?
5. In some ways, Margaretha seems independent and assertive— brandishing candlesticks and helping outwit Lord Claybrook— but in other ways she comes across as what could be called traditionally feminine. If she hadn’t lived as a medieval noblewoman, and was instead a modern character, what type of person do you think she would be? How might her and Colin’s relationship been different?
6. If you had been Margaretha, playing chess with Lord Claybrook after finding out his true intentions, how would you have reacted?
7. From the time Anne arrives at Hagenheim, she is focused on her own welfare, and becomes engaged to Sir Reginald, even spilling key information to Reginald and Claybrook’s men while ensuring her safety (and securing what would have been an advantageous marriage at the cost of her uncle’s death). What do you think happens to Anne by the end of the story? Do you think Anne acted the way she did because it was her innate personality, or because it was how she was raised? Why?
8. Throughout, Colin and Margaretha have several misunderstandings that come between them—chiefly Colin’s belief Margaretha will never leave her family, and Margaretha’s belief Colin doesn’t like spending time with her because she annoys him. Do you feel they were holding on to these misunderstandings as a way to avoid their true feelings? Or was there more keeping them apart (at least at first) than they could see?
9. If Margaretha and Colin had never found Duke Wilhelm, what do you think the two of them would have done next in hopes of stopping Claybrook? Why?
10. Toby, the child Margaretha and Colin find in the barn, seems to be a catalyst that finally forces Colin and Margaretha to face their true feelings. How else do you think Toby contributes to the storyline? Do you think Margaretha was right in taking Toby with them to Hagenheim?
11. Margaretha at one point admits she had the perfect man in mind, and it was keeping her from accepting any suitors. Do you think she found the perfect man for herself in Colin? And do you think he hit every box on her “husband-to-be” checklist? Why or why not? Do you think making a list of characteristics is a good or bad idea when it comes to finding a mate? How strictly should such a list be followed?
12. How do you think Margaretha will fare in England?