Imagine yourself, a lord at the court of Portugal’s King Pedro. 
Now you must kiss the hand of Inês, newly crowned queen – and six years dead.
 "Your tale begins with a beguiling amount of detail, which draws us in charmingly. Your narratorial voice is assured and consistent, providing readers with confidence in the author. You create a sense of place and character easily, and with skill."    Comments of a Letter Prize judge.

"Catherine Mathis takes a blazingly smart and deep dive into an era of history that still resonates today. With rich, robust, and evenly matched characters, she offers a historically accurate plot that is voyeuristic in all the right ways. Being fictionalized, in part, there is a lot to relish in the author’s creative craft, such as the introduction of minor characters who propel the plot into a sweeping conclusion. Plunging readers into the royal heart of a love story that has shaped history, her novel is sublimely sensual with a captivating sense of charm."    Chanticleer Review

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INÊS

The Tudors of England have nothing on the royals of medieval Iberia. In Portugal, the need for a male heir has dire consequences.
 
Long before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, Pedro and Inês lived and died in a tale of jealousy and revenge most bloody and tragic, becoming a Portuguese cultural touchstone. 

Pedro's father nearly lost his crown to a bastard sibling. A loyal courtier, Gonçalves, rescues the crown, earning the undying, unquestioning loyalty of the king. Pedro grows up under the rigid moral code of his father's court. Gonçalves, seeking ties to the next royal generation, provides young Pedro with guidance and comfort.  Pedro, an only son, is set to marry for the crown needs heirs. 

When Pedro's bride arrives she brings along the Lady Inês. A series of events is set in motion driving father and son apart. When you can't talk to your father, bad things can happen.