Lions and Lilies

Separated in infancy, rediscovered by chance, can they unravel a mystery and find a way to reunite? Wistful and passionate, the wayward Cecile d'Armagnac has enjoyed the indulgent childhood of a French noble, but life for the young woman is about to change when she learns of her sister. Catherine Pembroke, a naive novice, has endured a lonely existence behind convent walls, but when Cecile's letter is intercepted by the malicious Earl of Salisbury, the shy nun is thrust into a dangerous and foreign world. Placed into the custody of a cynical knight, Simon Marshall, Catherine struggles to unravel a past that threatens her future as William of Salisbury begins his own hunt - after the girls - hoping to use them as pawns in his desperate quest for power. Trapped by one of England's most powerful lords, Cecile yields to him to save her sister. She flees with the aid of the King's courier, Gillet de Bellegarde, but will her journey see her lose all she holds dear, or just her heart? In an age when women have control over their lives, Cecile and Catherine find themselves immersed into political turbulence, intrigue, danger and romance. Their hopes of meeting are thwarted by the powerful men around them - even as they provide both distraction and passion, for none appear to be who they claim. The Lily and the Lion will catapult you into a world when knighthood was revered and love was to be cherished.

When valor and duty stand above a heart's desire... Separated as infants and rediscovered by chance, sisters, Catherine Pembroke and Cecile d'Armagnac solve the mystery which forced them apart (The Lily and the Lion) only to find their reunion all too brief when the Prince of Wales seeks to reclaim his mistress. With an unbreakable bond forged between the girls, Catherine chooses a perilous path to shield her sister. But has the faith in her protector, Simon Marshall, been misplaced? Who is the mysterious Lady of Scotland and why is Simon so determined to locate her? Caught in a web of conspiracy, Catherine must unravel the secret Simon has worked so hard to conceal. Exiled to Kent, Gillet de Bellegarde takes up residence at his family's home, offering Cecile d'Armagnac the respite she desperately needs. But rest doesn't come easy in England and hour and trust becomes a double-edged sword. Cecile and Gillet's relationship is severely tested by a Welsh vixen, Cecile's burgeoning pregnancy and both families' determination to separate the lovers. Knowing his last hope lies in the restoration of his name, Gillet resumes his quest to be granted an audience with the French King but in his absence, Cecile is uprooted from her safe haven and confronted with a devastating choice. Enraged by failed attempts to capture either girl, William of Salisbury seeks the support of a new benefactress - one who only has eyes for the Crown. Their powerful alliance proves a dangerous combination as they plot to destroy anyone who stands in their way. The Order of the Lily will draw you back into the fourteenth century lives of Gillet and Cecile, Catherine and Simon as they strive to reconcile their pasts and accept a future none of them could have possibly foreseen.

In the darkest of hours, courage must be found ... Simon and Catherine Marshall travel to Edinburgh, determined to see the safe return of The Lady of Scotland, but they inadvertently uncover a royal deception. Floundering under the pressure of court life, Catherine is offered the guidance of Lady Agnes Dunbar, but what secret is the old lady hiding and why has she taken such an avid interest in the daily life of Lord and Lady Wexford? Trapped within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, Simon must choose where his loyalties lie, the consequence of which will decide the safety of his growing family. In France, Gillet de Bellegarde is instructed by the Duc de Berri to ingratiate the new English court in Bordeaux - his mission to seduce the Albrets back to the French throne, but when information comes to hand of a secret delivery to Prince Edward's castle, Cecile is sent as an agent for the Vicomtesse de Gisors, to deliver a vital message to her husband. Her journey takes a turn for the worst when another deadly enemy raises its head - La Peste, otherwise known as the Black Plague. Catherine Pembroke and Cecile d'Armagnac solved the mystery that separated them in childhood (The Lily and the Lion) only to be forced apart as they each faced challenges that would decide their future happiness (The Order of the Lily). The Gilded Crown draws you back into the 14th century lives of Gillet and Cecile, Catherine and Simon as, between them all, they strive to right an injustice and uncover a document that could end the reign of one king and send another to war.

When honour demands the ultimate sacrifice ... Ordered to Windsor Palace, Simon Marshall, Lord Wexford, must face accusations of murder and treason. Tormented by guilt, he withdraws from his family and slips into a deep melancholy. With the constant threat of the gallows hanging over her husband, Catherine Marshall must find a way to prove Simon's innocence and defeat the demon that tortures his mind. Catherine turns to Roderick of Shalford, Simon's half-sibling, but is there more to his affection for her than simply brotherly concern? Gillet de Bellegarde is unofficially recalled to duty and commissioned to the 'Archpriest' to help recapture Brignais. In his absence, routiers attack Bellegarde and both events end with disastrous results. Contracted by the Comte de Tancarville, Gillet accompanies him to Majorca to meet with Henri de Trastámara, a bastard prince who plans to usurp the Castilian throne. A Spanish campaign would rid France of the routiers and Gillet uses the opportunity to take Cécile to Larressingle, her childhood home. A distance has grown between the couple as each struggle with a hidden truth, but during their visit, a long-running feud between the houses of Armagnac and Foix reignites with devastating consequences. The Traitor's Noose races to an exciting conclusion; a grand finale to series one of Lions and Lilies.