Mallory Bright is the only daughter of London's master locksmith. For her there is no lock too elaborate, no secret too well kept. Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster and protector of Queen Elizabeth, the last of the Tudor monarchs, and her realm, is quick to realise Mallory's talent and draws her into his world of intrigue, danger and deception. With her by his side, no scheme in England or abroad is safe from discovery; no plot secure. But Mallory's...

Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by familial betrayal and Spain's invading army. She and her shrewd advisor must act to safeguard the lives of her people. When the dashing seafarer, Walter Raleigh, captures her heart, Elizabeth is forced to make her most tragic sacrifice for the good of her country. A tale of one woman's crusade to control her love, destroy her enemies and secure her position as a beloved icon of the western world.