In the King's Absence (1973) by Josephine Bell

A King flees for his life . . .

On a dark autumn evening in 1651, the young King Charles II escapes in beggar's rags to a life of exile in the European courts. In this time of great uncertainty, families are divided and friends are pitted against each other. As the son of a dashing royalist colonel, young scholar Alan Ogilvy is thrown into a life of subterfuge and danger. As he does the exiled king's bidding on both sides of the channel, he meets the beautiful daughter of his estranged Puritan uncle, and falls in love. But can their love survive their different faiths, and the schemes of their vengeful uncle, who is out to destroy them at all costs?

"A romantic young hero's conflict between loyalty to King Charles II and his love for a woman. A well-told historical novel." Books and Bookmen

About the Author

Josephine Bell was born Doris Bell Collier in Manchester, England. Between 1910 and 1916 she studied at Godolphin School, then trained at Newnham College, Cambridge until 1919. At the University College Hospital in London she was granted M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in 1922, and a M.B. B.S. in 1924.

Bell was also a prolific author, writing forty-three novels and numerous uncollected short stories during a forty-five year period.

Many of her short stories appeared in the London Evening Standard . Using her pen name she wrote numerous detective novels beginning in 1936, and she was well-known for her medical mysteries. Her early books featured the fictional character Dr. David Wintringham who worked at Research Hospital in London as a junior assistant physician. She helped found the Crime Writers' Association in 1953 and served as chair during 1959-60.