Cirrus@Austlit

'Separated in infancy, rediscovered by chance, can they unravel a mystery and find a way to reunite? Wistful and passionate, the wayward Cecile d'Armagnac has enjoyed the indulgent childhood of a French noble, but life for the young woman is about to change when she learns of her sister. Catherine Pembroke, a naive novice, has endured a lonely existence behind convent walls, but when Cecile's letter is intercepted by the malicious Earl of Salisbury, the shy nun is thrust into a dangerous and foreign world. Placed into the custody of a cynical knight, Simon Marshall, Catherine struggles to unravel a past that threatens her future as William of Salisbury begins his own hunt - after the girls - hoping to use them as pawns in his desperate quest for power. Trapped by one of England's most powerful lords, Cecile yields to him to save her sister. She flees with the aid of the King's courier, Gillet de Bellegarde, but will her journey see her lose all she holds dear, or just her heart? In an age when women have no control over their lives, Cecile and Catherine find themselves immersed into political turbulence, intrigue, danger and romance. Their hopes of meeting are thwarted by the powerful men around them - even as they provide both distraction and passion, for none appear to be who they claim. The Lily and the Lion will catapult you into a world when knighthood was revered and love was to be cherished.' (Publisher's blurb)

'When valour and duty stand above a heart's desire... Separated as infants and rediscovered by chance, sisters, Catherine Pembroke and Cecile d'Armagnac solve the mystery which forced them apart (The Lily and the Lion) only to find their reunion all too brief when the Prince of Wales seeks to reclaim his mistress. With an unbreakable bond forged between the girls, Catherine chooses a perilous path to shield her sister. But has the faith in her protector, Simon Marshall, been misplaced? Who is the mysterious Lady of Scotland and why is Simon so determined to locate her? Caught in a web of conspiracy, Catherine must unravel the secret Simon has worked so hard to conceal. Exiled to Kent, Gillet de Bellegarde takes up residence at his family's home, offering Cecile d'Armagnac the respite she desperately needs. But rest does not come easy in England and honour and trust becomes a double-edged sword. Cecile and Gillet's relationship is severely tested by a Welsh vixen, Cecile's burgeoning pregnancy and both families' determination to separate the lovers. Knowing his last hope lies in the restoration of his name, Gillet resumes his quest to be granted an audience with the French King but in his absence, Cecile is uprooted from her safe haven and confronted with a devastating choice. Enraged by failed attempts to capture either girl, William of Salisbury seeks the support of a new benefactress ??? one who only has eyes for the Crown. Their powerful alliance proves a dangerous combination as they plot to destroy anyone who stands in their way. The Order of the Lily will draw you back into the fourteenth century lives of Gillet and Cecile, Catherine and Simon as they strive to reconcile their pasts and accept a future none of them could have possibly foreseen.' (Publisher's blurb)