The Queen's Messenger

The knight Martin de Garnache arrives at the Condillac estate, commissioned by Queen Marie de' Medici herself to escort Mademoiselle de la Vauvray, the heiress to a great fortune, to Paris. However, the young lady is being held captive by the relentless Marquise, who intends to marry her off to her own son and will stop at nothing, not even cunning plots or murder. On the Marquise's side are the all-powerful provincial governor and a small army of cutthroats. The Queen's messenger soon finds himself fighting not only for the freedom and honour of the unfortunate girl, but also for his own life. This romantic story by a British author is filled with duels, disguises, and various tricks, and the plot is woven with subtle humour. The cover features the real Château de Condillac with its north tower, where the literary heroine was imprisoned.