In the glorious autumn of Elizabeth I's reign With supporters rallying for Mary Queen of Scots and the Spanish invasion fleet on the horizon, Queen Elizabeth I turns to her secret service for help. An adventurer and privateer serving the Queen's spymaster, Sir Christopher Hamilton is dispatched to watch over Anne Marie Fraser. Held hostage because of her treacherous father's support for Mary Queen of Scots, Anne Marie's cloistered plight angers and then frustrates Kit. Rescuing her from her father's cruel hands, Kit seeks permission from the Queen to marry. But he hasn't counted on Anne Marie's fury at discovering his deception. She will marry him, but she won't be his wife in anything more than name! THE ELIZABETHAN SEASON Glory and tragedy, love and betrayal in the Age of Elizabeth