The Marigold Chain
Riley, Stella
England 1666; the year all the prophecies said the world would end. For Chloe Hervaux, marriage to wild, unpredictable Alex Deveril offers escape from a home she hates.  For Alex, waking up with an epic hangover, the discovery that he has acquired a bride is an unwelcome shock. But while the marriage remains in name only, other forces are gathering. England is at war with the Dutch and Prince Rupert suspects that sabotage is at work in the fleet.  Instructed to find and stop the traitor, Alex enters a dark, secret labyrinth of intrigue - where no life is safe and nothing is what it seems. Chloe, meanwhile, navigates the shark-infested waters of Charles 11's licentious Court and plots a course of her own aimed at financial independence.  But as the diverse facets of Mr Deveril's personality are gradually revealed, her mock-marriage becomes fraught with difficulties - the greatest of which is Mr Deveril himself. Absorbed in his search for a traitor, Alex spares little thought for personal matters and less for his bride.  But as the flames of the Great Fire sweep over London, he and Chloe face their ultimate test.  Their world is at risk ... their choices may save it. The Marigold Chain is a richly-woven tale of intrigue, danger and love set against a backdrop of Restoration England during the year expected to be Doomsday.