Aurelia Rubbini, the only child of a rich merchant in 14th Century Italy, is a dutiful daughter, wife and mother, but she longs for something more than the restricted life intended for her. Then one day, her father returns home with an Asian slave boy, Batu, and Aurelia's destiny is changed forever.

Aurelia and Batu are inexorably drawn to each other, but their forbidden relationship is doomed. Aurelia is forced to marry Lorenzo de Graziano, a nobleman with a dangerous reputation, but Batu's presence arouses violent passions that Aurelia, in her innocence, can never understand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pauline Montagna was born into an Italian family in Melbourne. She has a degree in Bachelor of Arts as well as Graduate Diplomas in Language Studies and Education. She also has a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing. She is the author of The Slave, an historical novel, and Suburban Terrors, a short story collection. Pauline is the founding director of First Edition Book Sales, which specializes in independent Australian books. Read more at firsteditionbooks.com