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…

Alain de Banewulf may have triumphed by the strength of his sword during the Crusades, and returned home steeped in glory, but he needs to prove to himself that his skills as a knight lie beyond the battlefield. Alain's life is set to change when he rescues Katherine of Grunwald from brigands. For Katherine is carrying a treasure desired by all of Christendom - one that men will kill for - and Alain has sworn to protect her from the perils that lie ahead. With Katherine's help, perhaps Alain will come to realize that his honor depends not only on his bravery in the face of battle, but also on the strength of his love for one woman.