Five years after the defeat of the Despot, the southern country of Santerre has finally recovered from his rule and sends an embassy to Dalanine. Piercy Faranter, government agent and man about town, receives an assignment to watch over the princess of Santerre, who is disguised as one of her own ladies in waiting. It's a task perfectly suited to his charm and reputation with attractive young ladies, but proves to be more of a challenge, both personally and professionally, than he ever could have anticipated.The beautiful Ayane Caligwe seems shy, but Piercy finds behind her coy smiles she's more than a match for him in cunning and cleverness. But when a rogue magician opens a portal to the past, dragging Piercy and his reluctant charge with him, they are both forced to put pretenses aside.Trapped in a time two hundred years before his own, Piercy finds himself embroiled in a mystery whose roots are a thousand years deep. With time running out, he and Ayane must work together to stop the magician's madness-even if it costs them their lives. Melissa McShane is the author of the novels of Tremontane, beginning with SERVANT OF THE CROWN, the Extraordinaries series beginning with BURNING BRIGHT, the Last Oracle series beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS, and COMPANY OF STRANGERS, first in the series of the same title. She lives in Utah with her husband, four children, one niece, and three very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. Magic and adventure in a world very much like our own Victorian England.
