An action-packed ride through the English Civil War and its aftermath for the members of the Spelthorpe Estate which is located on the scenically stunning Norfolk coast. The Estate deals in agriculture, arms manufacturing and maritime trade. Those who belong to that community face piracy, slave traders, extremes of religious fanaticism, the judicial murder of witches and the brutality of the bloodiest of wars that divides the kingdom. They provide a safe haven for French Huguenots fleeing from persecution; an association that leads to romance. With guile, foresight and imagination, aided by the assistance of an alluring double agent at the King's court, its inhabitants courageously pursue a sinuous path to ensure the Estate's survival and protect those they love. As the prequel to the Spelthorpe Trilogy,this novel will take the reader further back by another 300 years to provide a taste of life on the Estate and other parts of the kingdom during during these troubled times.