Summary

In 1572, Ned is with Queen Elizabeth’s French Ambassador, Walsingham, who carries a list of every single suspicious Englishman who arrives in France. Ned does not see Walsingham with the same admiration as he does Cecil, he had grown up and respected the ambassador how he needed to. Both were part of a growing secret service for Elizabeth. After the Pope’s announcement, the peace Elizabeth had created between religions was in turmoil, and the secret service had uncovered the first assassination plan by one of the Pope’s agents. Many wealthy Catholics had fled to France, and Ned worries they will build a rebellion there. It was his and Walsingham’s responsibility to stop them.

On this particular day, the two men are going to attend a royal court in the Louvre Palace where all the most powerful French men...