It is 1666 – the year when people who take prophecy seriously believe that the world is going to end. For Chloe Herveaux, marriage to wild, unpredictable Alex Deveril offers escape from a home she hates. For Alex, it is a refuge of a different kind. But while the marriage remains in name only, other forces are gathering. With England at war with the Dutch and suspecting that sabotage is at work within the fleet, Prince Rupert instructs Mr Deveril to find the traitor … thus Alex enters a dark labyrinth of intrigue where no life is safe and nothing is what it seems. Chloe, meanwhile, navigates the malice and scandal of Charles II’s court and sets her course for financial independence. Absorbed in his search for a traitor, Alex spares little thought for his bride – until a hot June night on the Falcon Stairs when he and Chloe stand united by tragedy. As the flames of the Great Fire sweep over London, Alex and Chloe face their ultimate test. Their world is at risk … their choices may save it.