Hunted by a shadowyfoe in Bloody Mary's court, Brendan Prescott plunges into London's treacherousunderworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make Elizabeth queen-or sendher to her death.England, 1553. Harsh winter encroaches upon the realm. MaryTudor has become queen to popular acclaim, and her enemies are imprisoned inthe Tower. But when she's betrothed to Philip, Catholic prince of Spain,putting her Protestant subjects in peril, rumors of a plot to depose her swirlaround the one person many consider to be England's heir and only hope: thequeen's half sister, Princess Elizabeth.Haunted by his past, Brendan Prescott lives far from theintrigues of court. But his time of refuge comes to an end when his foe andmentor, the spymaster Cecil, brings him disquieting news that sends him on adangerous mission. Elizabeth is held captive at court, the target of theSpanish ambassador, who seeks her demise. Obliged to return to the palace wherehe almost lost his life, Brendan finds himself working as a double agent forQueen Mary herself, who orders Brendan to secure proof that will be hischerished Elizabeth's undoing.Plungedinto a deadly game of cat and mouse with a mysterious opponent who hides aterrifying secret, Brendan races against time to retrieve a cache of the princess'private letters, even as he begins to realize that in this dark world ofbetrayal and deceit, where power is supreme and sister can turn against sister,nothing-and no one-is what it seems.
