Alisander de Balon, fifth Viscount Bardulf, is a lot of things. Ambassador. Diplomat. Spy. He is also bored as hell at the Argent King’s court. His only diversion these days is tormenting staid Jane Cecil, the Queen’s favorite lady-in-waiting. Seeing her vexed amuses him more than any royal entertainment. Jane has finally found her place at court, and it is among the Queen’s retinue. All she wants to do is faithfully serve Her Majesty, something she could do in peace if it was not for the Queen’s countryman, Viscount Bardulf, who seems to delight in baiting her! Neither Bardulf nor Jane could have foreseen the sudden tragedy that leads to their hasty union, and certainly neither of them could have anticipated that they would fall so easily into different roles…that of husband and wife.