A medieval mystery novel concerning English knights, ladies of the manor, servants, and villagers in the year 1400.

The first signs of early spring have begun to blossom in the year l392, and the Lady Apollonia is living in the home of her third husband in the city of Gloucester. Master Robert Windemere is a wealthy wool merchant and furrier, a former bailiff of the city. Lady Apollonia is faced with the news of the death of her fourth son when his squire is finally able to return to her in fulfillment of a vow to his master. Losses in her personal life are echoed by an outbreak of major crime and murder in Gloucester, led by the most fiercely inhuman villain the Lady has ever encountered. Apollonia and her husband must deal with the realities of schism within the church and Wycliffe's insistence upon reform. The Lady takes up the challenge to safeguard those who serve her and find a way to rid Gloucester of vicious criminals who enjoy powerful protection.

The Lady Apollonia of Aust, medieval sleuth and wealthy daughter of an earl, faces widowhood for the third time. She chooses to guarantee her sovereignty by vowing to become a Bride of Christ, declaring that she will live a nun@s life but remain in the world. @Her household takes up residence in Cirencester. There they encounter an ongoing power struggle between the local Augustinian Abbey and the townspeople. After centuries of the abbot@s declaration of being lord of the manor, the people of Cirencester search for ways to stop the abbey@s abuses of power against the town. @Upon her arrival the Lady learns that, in the absence of the abbot, the abbey is being run by its prior, an evil living canon. He is known to abuse his power as a manipulative predator without a shred of human compassion or call to Christian ministry. @Lady Apollonia is not only forced to deal with murder, she finds herself under attack by one whose muddled mind regards her as the source of evil.

This second novel in the author's historical mystery series is set in the year is 1380. Lady Apollonia is living with her affinity and three younger sons in Exeter House at the end of summer while her husband is away in London. The images of English medieval people here shift to the emerging towns and the growing merchant class who struggle with a gang culture organized by the local nobility.

In late 14th century Worcester, the Lady Apollonia of Aust struggles to protect the affinity of her son, the sheriff, against undercover usury deviously directed from behind monastic walls while upper middle class sexual misconduct forces him to solve three murders.