Old rivalries…new friendships…dangerous decisions. Set in 16th Century Scotland Munro owes allegiance to the Cunninghames and to the Earl of Glencairn. Trapped in the 150-year-old feud between the Cunninghames and the Montgomeries, he escapes the bloody aftermath of an ambush, but he cannot escape the disdain of the wife he sought to protect, or his own internal conflict. He battles with his conscience and with divided loyalties – to age-old obligations, to his wife and children, and, most dangerous of all, to a growing friendship with the rival Montgomerie clan. Intervening to diffuse a quarrel that flares between a Cunninghame cousin and Hugh Montgomerie, he succeeds only in antagonizing William, the arrogant and vicious Cunninghame heir. And antagonizing William is a dangerous game to play…

About the Book Eleven years on from the Massacre of Annock, the Cunninghame / Montgomerie truce is fragile. For the Munro family, living in hiding under assumed names, these are dangerous times. While Munro risks his life daily in the service of the French King, the spectre of discovery by William Cunninghame haunts his wife Kate. Her fears for their children and her absent husband realized as William’s desire for revenge tears their world apart. A sweeping tale of compassion and cruelty, treachery and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of feuding clans, the French Wars of Religion, and the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597.

The eagerly awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Munro Scottish Saga trilogy ‘…fast-paced … a hugely satisfying read.’ Undiscovered Scotland. 1598. The French Wars of Religion are drawing to an end, the Edict of Nantes establishing religious freedom in all but Paris. For the exiled Adam and Kate Munro, the child Kate carries symbolizes a new life free from past troubles, despite their lingering nostalgia for Scotland and the friendship of the Montgomeries. When Adam foils an attempt on the French king’s life the whole family are called to court. But religious tensions remain high, and Paris holds dangers as well as delights. For the Munros and Montgomeries alike, these are troubled times… Praise for Margaret Skea – Beryl Bainbridge Best First Time Novelist ‘More down-in-the-dirt than Diana Gabaldon and just as meticulously researched as Philippa Gregory. It's touching, fierce and surprising, with a sprinkling of humour.’ The Bookbag ‘A rollicking good read … Skea is definitely a name to watch out for.’ Scottish Field Magazine ‘The quality of the writing and the research is outstanding.’ Jeffrey Archer ‘The sheer villainy of some characters will take your breath away.’ Historical Novels Review