Betrayal has many guises . . .
London, 1593: Five years on from the Armada and England is taking its
first faltering steps towards a future as a global power. Nicholas
Shelby--reluctant spy and maverick physician--and his companion Bianca
Merton are settling into a life on Bankside. But in London there is
always a plot afoot . . . Robert Cecil, the Queen's spymaster, once
again recruits Nicholas to embark on a dangerous undercover mission that
will take him to the back alleys of Marrakech in search of a missing
informer. However, while Nicholas hunts for the truth across the seas,
plague returns once more to London--ravaging the streets and threatening
those dearest to him. Can Bianca and Nicholas' budding relationship
weather the threats of pestilence and conspiracy? And will Nicholas
survive the dangers of his mission in a hostile city to return safely
home?