IN 1559, Nicholas Hillyarde and his friend, Thomas Bodley rescue a young boy from being beaten up and this encounter changes Nicholas’ life, for this boy, Marcus, is the son of Mistress Teerlinc, a painter of miniatures at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

She and her husband bring up Nicholas and she teaches him the art of limning. This training, combined with his background in gold and silver work, along with his good looks, catches the eye of the Queen. One day a young man walks into Nicholas’ home asking for his portrait to be painted, but the figure must be holding a hand from above; a puzzling composition and Nicholas has a hunch this man could alter the history of England.

Melanie V Taylor has done extensive research and writes a novel that intrigues from the start. Her characters are beautifully portrayed, much like Hillyarde’s small paintings themselves.