"1599. After years of arrogance, disobedience and failure, the Earl of Essex bursts into Queen Elizabeth’s private chambers at Nonsuch Palace, confronting her before she has even had time to dress. This is something the Queen can never forgive. Essex’s enemies, led by Secretary of State Robert Cecil, begin to plan his final downfall. Cecil turns to his Chief Intelligencer Robert Poley, the man whose undercover work exposed the Babbington plot and led to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots. Poley is a man used to working in the shadows and his stock in trade is betrayal – something that is beginning to trouble his Catholic conscience. Even so, the spy must go under cover once more - into the powder keg that is Essex House. Poley's mission is to provide the spark which will destroy the Earl and all his followers in one great treasonous explosion."