The House of the Red Duke. Book Two Beware the Lizard Lurking
Beware the Lizard Lurking
- 398 pages
- 14 hours of reading
The Howards are back, larger than life and brimming with audacity. A secret Twelfth Night wedding is set to unfold away from Henry VIII's opulent Christmas court at Greenwich, with dire consequences if the King uncovers the ruse. Uninvited guests in Cornwall add a new twist to the unfolding drama. The hot-headed young King is determined to wage a so-called holy war against France, despite the counsel of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, which puts him at odds with his usually affable Scottish brother-in-law, James IV. Meanwhile, Thomas Wolsey, the King's almoner and a growing thorn in the Earl's side, supports the war as he ascends the ranks at the Tudor court. Across the Narrow Sea, Louis XII of France seeks to rekindle the 'Auld Alliance' with Scotland. Tensions rise between Tristan and Nicolas over Ysabeau, their neighbor's flirtatious young wife, as Tristan's gallant gestures earn him her radiant smile. Valentine stirs trouble, particularly for Tristan, while Cecily enjoys her life at Zennor Castle in Cornwall. Yet, none of them can foresee what Dame Fortune has in store. Will she permit them to pursue their desires, or does she have other plans?