Barbara Kyle Knihy

Young Queen Elizabeth I's path to the throne has been a perilous one, and already she faces a dangerous crisis. French troops have landed in Scotland to quell a rebel Protestant army, and Elizabeth fears once they are entrenched on the border, they will invade England. Isabel Thornleigh has returned to London from the New World with her Spanish husband, Carlos Valverde, and their young son. Ever the queen's loyal servant, Isabel is recruited to smuggle money to the Scottish rebels. Yet Elizabeth's trust only goes so far--Isabel's son will be the queen's hostage until she completes her mission. Matters grow worse when Isabel's husband is engaged as military advisor to the French, putting the couple on opposite sides in a deadly cold war. . . "Starts strong and doesn't let up. . .Kyle's latest is extremely accessible for readers unfamiliar with the series." --Publishers Weekly "Memorable characters, lush historical details, fascinating intrigues, and court drama. History and romance merge, loyalty and passions run high and readers are riveted to the pages." --RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars "Riveting, adventurous. . .superb!" --Historical Novel Society

London 1527. Marry or serve: for Honor Larke, the choice is clear. Unwilling to perish of boredom as an obedient wife, she leaves the home of her guardian to attend Her Majesty Queen Catherine of Aragon. Angered by the humiliation heaped upon her mistress as Henry VIII cavorts with Anne Boleyn and presses Rome for a divorce, Honor volunteers to carry letters to the Queen's allies abroad. It's a risky game, and swept into a tide of intrigue and danger that stretches across Europe, the Queen's lady is about learn everything about passion, pride, greed - and the capricious nature of the King.