Born after William the Bastard's invasion of England, Lynet Goodrich has known nothing but the peace - and boredom - of her rural village. When news comes that they are to have a new Norman overlord, her first reaction is excitement - but excitement swiftly turns to terror as Ranulf le Ferrier exerts his right to take her on her wedding night. And when he refuses to give her back and has her rightful husband hanged before her horrified eyes, she realises she is helpless in the hands of a ruthless man who will stop at nothing to break her spirit. Will her Saxon courage sustain her - or will she be beaten, ravished and enslaved like her own conquered country?