Publisher's Synopsis
It is the mid 16th century in France. The seductive magnificence of the Valois Court is unparalleled. The Renaissance is at its peak. Rabelais is a celebrated author, Ronsard is publishing his sonnets and Montaigne lays the plans for his Essays while working at the Parliament in Bordeaux. Anne de Ségur and the sisters Éléonore and Catherine de Durfort are three unmarried young women, without a voice or a standing in the rigid high society of Aquitaine. But they are determined to forge their own paths in life, even if it means facing their families' disapproval or navigating the simmering conflict between Catholics and Protestants.
Anne appears to be the perfect daughter, devoted to her mother and destined to become an old maid. But beneath the surface smoulder passions and secrets that threaten to burn down her carefully built house of cards. Éléonore dreams of marrying well and helping her family out of the poverty imposed on them by the tragic events of the Salt Miners' Revolt of 1548. To achieve that, she may have to forfeit her one chance at happiness. Haunted by the memory of her deceased aunt and brothers, Catherine finds solace in unexpected friendships that may lead her to perdition. Inevitably, the moment will come when she will have to choose between vengeance and forgiveness, and between love and faith.
As they get caught in romantic entanglements, Court intrigues, unexpected betrayals and poisoned family dynamics, all three of them must come to terms with the traumatic events that refuse to remain deeply buried in their past. To do so, they must lower their masks and face their fates with honesty and courage. And they must be ready to do whatever it takes to protect the ones they love, even if it means staining their hands black with powder.
