December 1599. A grimy, plague-ridden London is beginning its painful emergence into a great city, but there is treachery afoot as yet another plot is developing to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I. Young, impetuous Michael de Subermore, is summoned to Whitehall palace, ordered to infiltrate the suspected conspirators, and uncover their plans. Amid plots, counter-plots, bouts of amnesia, duels, and back-alley murders, Michael survives by using his sword to defend the Queen, his honour, and the life of the woman he loves. Historical people and events are beautifully interwoven into a hard-to-put-down, fast-paced, gripping story.