The Protector

by Sharon Balts

'Upon my oath, dear Anne, I am as well-behaved as I need to be in accordance with the eyes that watch me. And I am under far more scrutiny upon this wee vessel than ever I was in the grand household of royalty. I assure you, you shall be safe in my company.' Anne Dutton is good at pretending. Since childhood, she has lived upon the charity of her uncle and aunt, never to reveal her true identity for fear of dangerous repercussions. When concern for Anne's safety arises, a bargain is struck with the fearsome Sir Thomas Blackaby, a man who once served the queen and whose beguiling ways intrigued a young Anne. Pretending to be courted by the queen's former bodyguard should have been a simple matter, but the once-dashing man who filled Anne's childhood fantasies can deal betrayal as deftly as he wields his famous sword. Upon learning the truth about The Protector, will Anne let her painful past dictate her future? Or will she turn to the source of her martyred father's strength?

319 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2010