‘A wonderfully humane, and all-too human, central character.’ Roger Morris

England, 1618.

At his manor of Thirldon, ex-Justice Belstrang – still at loggerheads with his old rival Justice Standish – receives devastating news: King James intends to purchase the estate for his favourite, the Marquis of Buckingham – and Belstrang must comply.

In the ensuing turmoil, while his son-in-law George petitions the King on his behalf, Belstrang receives a plea from a dying friend, Sir Richard Mountford, to visit him at Foxhill Manor. To take his mind off his troubles Belstrang goes – and discovers things are not so simple.