Bessie, the selfless sister of the powerful but stubborn Brunson clan, has sacrificed herself for her family's honor and is at the mercy of the court of King James. Ill-suited to court life, she must confront their mortal enemy, Lord Thomas Carwell, dressed in nothing but borrowed finery and pride.
Underneath the relentless gaze of her captor, she's enticed not only by him but also by the opulence of a world far removed from her own. When the furious king demands her brother's head, Carwell is the only one to whom she can turn. But she must pay the ultimate price for his protection....