Kitchen maid Bronwyn is on the run. Empress Maud’s attempted coronation in London has failed, and she and a loyal few are fleeing from an angry mob.
Their travels end at Winchester, a stronghold loyal to the empress. But King Stephen’s wife, Queen Matilda, has been busy while her husband sits in prison, and her army is marching on Winchester.
Meanwhile, someone is pulling nasty pranks on the empress. From harmless tricks that disturb and distract the empress to serious incidents, a prankster is at her court, hiding in plain sight.
Bronwyn’s reputation for solving court intrigues has raised her value in the empress’s eyes, and she is tasked with finding out who is behind these pranks.
But with a suspicious new food taster and courtly figures getting involved in the investigation, Bronwyn’s suspect list only grows longer.
