Mail Royal

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the disputed Casket Letters attributed to Mary, Queen of Scots remain politically explosive. If genuine, they might implicate Mary in the death of Lord Darnley; if manipulated, they are evidence of the campaign that destroyed her rule. Either way, possession of them offers leverage over her son James VI of Scotland, newly established as James I of England and anxious to secure his authority in both kingdoms.

Andrew Gray, seventh Lord Gray, believes the papers could become an instrument of persuasion, protection or blackmail. The difficulty is that they are hidden at Fast Castle, a near-impregnable stronghold clinging to the Berwickshire cliffs and controlled by men who do not welcome strangers. Andrew therefore sends his illegitimate nephew David Gray to obtain them. What begins as a secret family commission becomes a dangerous contest involving divided loyalties, concealed identities and the legacy of Mary’s downfall. David must decide whether obedience to his uncle is worth the political and personal consequences of placing such evidence in ambitious hands.