First published 2009
Roger Bigod arrives at Henry II's court with everything to prove. The young heir to Norfolk's earldom must claim his inheritance from grasping half-brothers while navigating the treacherous politics of twelfth-century England. At court he meets Ida de Tosney, the king's gentle mistress and mother to Henry's illegitimate son. Ida recognizes that her precarious position grows weaker each day. The king's attention wanes, and her future depends entirely on royal whim. In Roger she glimpses something different: genuine affection and the promise of security beyond the court's manipulations. Their cautious romance unfolds against the backdrop of Henry's volatile temperament and the rigid hierarchies that govern medieval life. But their growing attachment cannot remain hidden. When the king discovers their courtship, his fury threatens to destroy them both. Ida faces an impossible decision that will exact a devastating personal cost, forcing her to choose between love and survival in a world where women have few options and royal displeasure can prove fatal.
Genres: drama, romance, historical-fiction, historical-romance
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forbidden-romance
Setting: Norfolk, England
Period: Twelfth Century
536 pages · Kindle Edition · Sphere