Author Description

Will Draper has broken with Thomas Cromwell, and is wondering what to do with his life from now on. Cromwell is trying to keep both Henry and his Lady Anne happy, and finding it increasingly difficult. When Henry seems to favour a new face at court, Cromwell becomes suspicious. What hold does the newcomer have over the king? He determines to investigate Sir Peregrine Martell, but is hampered by the lack of Will Draper's clever mind. A temporary reconciliation comes about when Will is promoted to the rank of Colonel of Horse, and made the King's Royal Examiner. Cromwell seizes his chance, and lures Will Draper into investigating Martell.Cromwell accepts an invitation to visit Broome Hall, Martell's estate, and takes Will with him, but things are not as they seem. They arrive, to find that Martell has not issued the invitation, and others are arriving with each passing hour. Why have these people, who have never met before, been lured to Broome Hall? With a snow storm closing in on them, Cromwell, Lady Agnes Cahan, Martell, Richard Pound, a rich merchant, Count Jean Carnet,and Sir Roderick Travis, a Corsair who once was the terror of the Spanish Main, find themselves trapped, and at the mercy of an invisible foe.Will Draper must question each in turn, and find out what links them to Broome Hall. Will secures the house, and settles his flock of bemused visitors down for the night. He stands a lonely vigil, but to no avail. Come the dawn, and one of his flock is dead. Will Draper realises that the flock he is protecting, might have a wolf hiding within. The King's Examiner works his way through an ever more complicated investigation, and comes to some startling conclusions.Cromwell finds himself being courted by a beautiful widow, and for once, he seems to have little control of events. As the snowstorm abates, secrets are revealed, and the finger of justice is pointed. Back at court, arrangements are being made for a royal visit to Calais, the small piece of England th