1587. Three years after his enforced departure to London, Hew is
reconciled with King James VI and recalled to Scotland. He elopes to St
Andrews with a young Englishwoman. The death of Mary, Queen of Scots has
unleashed a wave of anti-English sentiment among the Scottish people,
and fear and confusion in the king himself. James will grant his
blessing to their controversial marriage on the condition that Hew
discovers what lies behind a painting cunningly contrived to prick the
young king's conscience - an anamorphic death's-head with his mother's
face. Meanwhile in St Andrews, the death of a painter is troubling to
Giles Locke, and the English Frances, struggling to adapt to a foreign
town and culture, helps Hew find the link among the artists and
intriguers of opposing courts, a quest for love - and life - requiring
all his skills.