Description

In 1066 after her father and brother are killed in battle, Brianna becomes heiress to Howthwaite Manor in the north-east of England. To avoid a forced marriage Brianna escapes, disguised as a boy and spends the next few years with a troupe of travelling entertainers.
Early in 1070, Brianna returns to a small community in the forest near her home, determined to apply to the local Norman overlord for help to reclaim her inheritance. However, the King’s policy of forcing the daughters and widows of Saxon nobles to wed Normans gives her pause. Believing that her stepbrother will kill her if she falls into his clutches, she remains disguised as a youth.
In the autumn of 1069 relationships between Normans and Saxons is at a very low point. When Brianna encounters a Norman hunter in the forest she is naturally wary. Although she finds the man attractive, she follows her instinct to escape. Subsequently, a series of incidents bring shocking revelations, that lead her into further dangers. Will the local Norman overlord and his attractive son, Lord Robert, help her, and if so, what price must she pay?