September 1, 2005
Nell de Bonvile has unexpectedly been summoned from the convent where she was raised to take her now-deceased older sister's place in a marriage destined to unite the holdings of two of England's most powerful lords under one man pledged to support King Stephen in the coming civil war. Nell's intended is equally loath, but matters progress swiftly, and the two soon find themselves married. A considerate man, Roger is willing to give his bride time before consummating the marriage, but domestic upheavals caused by a jealous lady-in-waiting as well as the natural impatience of a young man who desires his wife cause unforeseen troubles at a time when Roger must devote all his training and experience to the service of his king. Wolf's intricately plotted and vividly detailed historical romance introduces the reader to a time and a conflict unfamiliar to many and offers intriguing glimpses of the main players and the great stakes involved.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)