England, Late September 1642.
A bloody civil war is tearing the kingdoms apart. But, in Yorkshire, some are striving for a countywide Treaty of Neutrality, in the hope of maintaining peace and order.
Gideon Lennox, once a London lawyer, now serves in Philip Lord’s mercenary company. But Lord is a traitor with a mysterious past. As they occupy the manor house of Wrathby in Ryedale, they are confronted with the suspicious death of a servant – and talk of a curse which has afflicted the Belamy family for generations.
Lord’s new captain, Mags, is plotting to gain greater influence within the company and his popularity with the men begins to cause problems.
As tensions increase, a guest of Lady Belamy is poisoned and Gideon is tasked by Lord with investigating both murders, making himself a target for the killer.
When an attempt is made on the life of the infant baron, Zahara, the enigmatic beauty who travels with Lord and has captured Gideon’s heart, is accused.
In order to save the woman he loves, Gideon has to trust an ally of his enemy.
Zahara’s life – and his own – will hang in the balance.
Eleanor Swift-Hook 