Less Fortunate Than Fair (1974) takes its title from a remark about Cicely Plantagenet reportedly made by Sir Thomas More. The book is a fictionalized account of the life of the second eldest surviving daughter of King Edward IV of England and Queen Elizabeth Woodville, born in 1469 to great privilege, wealth, and beauty. As a girl, Cicely is betrothed to the future King of Scotland. However, that union never takes place. Following the untimely death of her father in 1483, Cicely and her siblings are declared illegitimate and her marriage prospects become greatly limited. She weds Ralph Scrope, the younger son of a noble family. It's quite a comedown for a former royal princess. After Cicely's House of York is defeated in 1485 by the House of Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses and the victor takes power as King Henry VII, he marries Cicely's elder sister, Elizabeth. He also has Cicely's marriage annulled so he can marry her off to his uncle and staunch supporter, John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles. Cicely has three children with Viscount Welles, two of whom die young. She goes to court and plays an important role in royal ceremonies with her sister the queen. Following the death of Viscount Welles and some time between 1502/1504, Cicely makes her third and final marriage to Thomas Kyme, an obscure Lincolnshire squire. Most historians believe it was a love match. The king banishes Cicely for marrying without his permission, and seizes her lands. However, he eventually pardons her and restores her property. Cicely has two more children and lives the rest her life far from court.