Francis and Philippa, man and wife, are on either side of the world, providing good service in different ways to different monarchs. The events of the previous book have changed them both, but it's fair to see Francis has been affected most severely. Forced to live by his vow to Philippa, he divests himself of all that is weak, brings out all that is strong, and throws himself into the forging of a nation under Tsar Ivan of Russia. Philippa, through the intervention of Margaret Lennox, is summoned to the court of Queen Mary, who burns heretic and pines to give her husband, Philip of Spain a son. Between them stretch intrigues and ventures and the demands of family and loyalty, but though they are pledged to divorce as soon as possible, have they become too alien to each other for any common ground? Or are they more alike than either could even imagine?