In 1558, Elizabeth I’s accession places the Catholic Morlands in a vulnerable position. John, heir to Morland Place, travels to the Border country to marry the daughter of the formidable cattle lord Black Will Percy. Before he can secure the alliance, he must prove himself in a violent society where authority depends upon courage and the ability to command loyalty.
John’s sister Lettice is married to the ruthless Scottish baron Lord Robert Hamilton and enters the dangerous court of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her struggle for survival draws the Morlands into the religious and dynastic rivalry between England and Scotland. The novel contrasts the rough warfare of the Borders with court intrigue, showing a family forced to seek new influence as confessional politics threaten its inheritance.
