The queen's hold on power grows weak and one young man is ready to take advantage.1588. The Spanish Armada has been defeated, but Queen Elizabeth is stricken with grief, for her greatest favourite, the earl of Leicester, has died, and she feels so very alone. Her days are full of colour and life, but her nights are haunted by ghosts.Enter Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, a handsome and charming young man, who Elizabeth hopes, will drive the ghosts away.But Robert has plans of his own. He has his eyes on the future, and his future doesn't include an old woman sitting on the throne of England. He's looking forward to the day when a man once again wears England's crown, and he's going to do all he can to bring it about, even if that means turning traitor to his queen.But Elizabeth is not as weak as Robert supposes. She has always been a survivor and is ready to fight to keep her throne.Robert must succeed. In the dangerous world of the Tudor court, there aren't any prizes for coming second, only death at the hands of the victor.
