In the days of Queen Mary

Set against the warm glow of a Sussex midsummer, the story opens at Chiddingly Place, a Tudor manor where twin brothers William and Ralph enjoy the simple pleasures of lawn games and the company of their devoted sister Susan. The siblings, fresh from studies at St. Paul’s and recently returned from a royal masque that caught the young king’s eye, are poised between country life and the pull of court intrigue. Their close‑knit family dynamic, highlighted by Susan’s gentle authority after the loss of their mother, creates a vivid portrait of loyalty and youthful ambition.

When their influential uncle, Sir John Jefferay, arrives from London, the household prepares for an evening that will bridge the rustic estate and the world of power. As the twins ready themselves for another summons to the royal court, the narrative hints at the delicate balance they must maintain between duty, honor, and the bonds that hold them together. The opening promises a richly detailed glimpse of Tudor England, where personal ties intersect with the shifting currents of politics and ambition.