Lay siege Sent to execute the king s cryptic command to destroy an evil sorcerer, capture his castle, and take his daughter to wife, Alain De Crency expects a hard siege. Instead, the castle is undefended, the daughter vanished, and the sorcerer dead, shrouded in a purple cloak. Alain lays claim to the cloak and searches for the missing daughter. But soon he faces a new dilemma: How can he marry the missing lady when a beautiful, evasive servant has captured his desire? To her heart Melisande s only hope to save her people is the Norman knight sent by the king. But that hope may be dashed when her evil father s magic reaches beyond the grave: The poisonous dye of the cloak is killing Alain, just as it had slain her mother. To save Alain from the cloak s enthralling spell, Melisande disguises herself as the servant Edyt and walks a fine line between death and desire, for if her terrible secrets are exposed, she ll be executed by the very man who has stolen her heart. ...rare treasure...riveting historical fiction...breathtaking romance... - Susan Wiggs, bestselling author"