She sent a message to the King. Do something, she said. My husband has been away, so he will know the baby is not his. David sent for Uriah, who left the fighting and came back to Jerusalem. He went straight to the palace. What do you want of me, he asked the king. Give me a report of what's happening at the battlefield, said David. 

HER HUSBAND BECOMES SUSPICIOUS
When that was finished, David told Uriah to go and visit his wife. If he did, the inconvenient pregnancy could be hushed up. But Uriah prevaricated. He stayed all night with the other soldiers at the palace, while Bathsheba waited for him at home. 

Next day, David tried again. He got Uriah drunk, urging him to go to his wife. But still the wretched man would not go down into the city and visit his home. It was all too obvious that Uriah knew Bathsheba was pregnant, and refused to 'play the gentleman'. David got desperate. He wrote a letter to his most trusted general at the front. Kill the bearer of this letter, but make it look like he died in battle, the letter said. Then David gave the letter to Uriah and told him to return with it to the front.

Uriah took the letter, gave it to the general, and was treacherously killed. The Bible says Bathsheba 'wailed' for her dead husband,as well she might. Then King David sent for her, took her into the royal harem, and married her.

BATHSHEBA MARRIES KING DAVID
Her baby was born. It died. Bathsheba became pregnant again, and this time the little boy lived. He was called Solomon.

Bathsheba got older, and the boy grew up. She had other children. She was beautiful and clever, and David loved her. But David was getting older - much older. There came a time when he couldn't have sex anymore. This was serious, since a king who was no longer virile was not fit to be king. He'd lost his credibility. 

WHO WILL SUCCEED TO THE THRONE?
Bathsheba was in a dangerous situation, but she was not going to give up without a struggle. She had formidable allies - the royal adviser Nathan, the head of the mercenary soldiers Benaiah, and the priest Zadok. Between them, these kingmakers devised a plan. Bathsheba went to David in his bedroom and told him that Adonijah had already usurped the throne. She told him that, almost alone among his children, Solomon remained loyal. She feared for her own life. You are still king, she said. Do something.

There was a coup d'etat in Jerusalem, and when the dust died down Solomon was on the throne. Bathsheba was now Queen Mother, the most powerful position a woman could hold.

BATHSHEBA GETS RID OF A THREAT
But Adonijah was still alive, and still a threat. Solomon could not kill his brother outright. He was after all the older brother, and a lot of people still wanted him as king. But no-one knew better than Bathsheba that the situation had to be resolved. How to get rid of Adonijah?

Again, she devised a plan. She went to Solomon in the throne-room of the palace, and there in front of the courtiers she told her son that Adonijah had asked her if she would help him marry Abishag, the young woman who had been put into David's bed. It sounds reasonable enough, but it wasn't. A man who married the wives of a previous king could claim the throne himself. Bathsheba was accusing Adonijah of treason.

The young king Solomon, it seems had been placed in a terrible position. No-one dared question whether Bathsheba's accusation was true or not. She was too powerful now. He had to execute his half-brother, like it or not. There was no trial, just a swift dagger to the heart. Bathsheba's son was secure on the throne, and her position was safe. She could rest on her laurels.

BIBLE REFERENCE:  Bathsheba and King David (2 Samuel 11:1-26, 12:15-25)
                                                The struggle for the throne (1 Kings 1:1-37, 2:10-25)

PEOPLE IN THE STORY 
Bathsheba, granddaughter of the King's counselor, daughter of a high ranking soldier, wife of another high-ranking soldier; beautiful, intelligent, very much a political animal. Good at manipulating people to do what she wants.
David, a powerful, charismatic king. Politically clever, but often governed by his emotions, especially when it comes to family matters. Unscrupulous when it comes to women.
Uriah, noble but hapless husband of Bathsheba, who almost certainly knows about her infidelity with David but is powerless to do anything about it. Betrayed by his king David, murdered on the battlefield so that David can marry Bathsheba.
Solomon, son of Bathsheba and David. One of many sons, but eventually, after a number of convenient deaths of older brothers, he becomes heir to the throne. Noted in later ages for his wisdom, he exhibits this in Bathsheba's story by allowing her to orchestrate the murder of his older brother Adonijah.
Adonijah, popular son of David, expected to be king after David,  but outmaneuvered by the political party led by Bathsheba and Nathan.
Nathan, probably a native of Jerusalem and kept on as astute adviser by David after he makes Jerusalem his capital. Holds a special position described nowadays as 'prophet', where he was able to advise the king in a frank manner that was not allowed to other courtiers and advisers.
Abishag, an exceptionally beautiful young woman whose naked body, it was hoped, would arouse David from impotence.