In twelfth-century Northumbria divorce can be fatal ...
Cast aside by her violent husband, Beatrice disguises herself and seeks refuge with her infant son in the shelter of Beauforde castle. But her plans to live a quiet life risk coming undone when she catches the eye of the handsome seneschal.
Gilbert de la Haye needs to marry and marry fast or risk losing his lands to the church. When the beautiful and mysterious Beatrice attracts his eye his problems seem solved - until she refuses his proposal.
Gilbret pursues the alluring beauty until she agrees to his offer-a marriage of convenience and legitimacy for her son.
But what dark secret have the Fates yet to reveal?
In the complicated and dangerous game that is marriage, there's only one way to determine fate ... a duel to the death.