A knight, a lady, and a dark, dark secret...Lady Alayne's remarkable beauty acts as an irresistible lure to the knights of Queen Eleanor's Court of Love. Unhappy in her first marriage, she has no desire to tie herself to another man. Until the arrival of Sir Ralph de Banewulf. His tragic past touches her, and his commanding figure is hard to ignore. On the Queen's orders, Alayne must accompany Sir Ralph to England. A marriage between them would ensure Alayne's protection, but this gallant knight carries secrets never shared-and, if Alayne were to marry him, she might just discover the darkness that lies at the heart of the Banewulf household...