During the prosperous years after 1670, Morland Place flourishes and Annunciata, now Countess of Chelmsford, enjoys wealth and influence close to the royal family. The stability of Charles II’s reign proves temporary, however, and the accession of James II brings rebellion, religious conflict and renewed danger to a family whose fortunes remain tied to the Stuarts.
Jealousy, betrayal and violent death threaten Annunciata’s children, while her own secret love casts a shadow over everything she has achieved. The Monmouth Rebellion and the crisis of James II’s rule turn private attachments into political liabilities. In a world where bloodline and allegiance determine survival, Annunciata discovers that loyalty to family, lover and monarch cannot always be reconciled.
