Loyalty’s Web

Poitevin Hearts, Book 1

Heléne de Laurant has not forgotten how the English Earl of Gunthar destroyed her father’s castle during King Henry II’s war with his sons. Apparently neither have her family and friends, for when someone tries to murder Gunthar, every sign points in their direction. Heléne realizes the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin. But what if one of them is guilty? Can she forsake her bonds of love and loyalty to face the truth?

Gunthar views Heléne as at best naïve, at worst potentially complicit when she continues to deny the obvious. Her family betrayed the king once before in the county of Poitou. The attack on Gunthar’s life proves that one, if not all, of them are eager to exact revenge for the king’s humiliating defeat of the Poitevin rebels by murdering his most staunch supporter. Gunthar vows he will not return to England until he has uncovered and ruthlessly squashed this new threat to himself and his royal master.

As Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor, fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction. Heléne must race against time and dark secrets of the past to unmask the would-be killer before the kingdom plunges back into war. But even if she succeeds, will the love that grows between her and Gunthar be strong enough to break the webs of loyalty that threaten to keep them forever apart?
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