The Cavalier’s Oath (Lord’s Legacy)
The book opens in May 1643, when the Civil War is still going the Royalists’ way. The book’s principal characters are all on that side of the war, but they are far from in agreement with one another. Events are seen through the eyes of Gideon Lennox, though the plot is chiefly motivated by the actions of Sir Philip Lord, who employs Lennox (later known as Gideon Fox) amongst his many followers, military and civilian. One of these is Christobel, estranged wife of Lord’s cruel enemy Nicholas Tempest; the latter’s attempt to recover her is one of the plotlines. Lord, his wife Catherine, Christobel and Gideon travel from Oxford to the city of Worcester whose defence is to be strengthened by Lord’s regiments of Horse and Foot. Here there is wangling about the lines of command, including an enjoyable artillery duel fought between one of Lord’s officers and another commander, a whodunnit as two women are found murdered, and battle scenes as the Parliament forces attack the city. However, amidst all this, the dominant plot strand is the attempt by Lord to penetrate a conspiracy around a secret bloodline from Henry VIII, which may nullify all the era’s religious divisions.
Lord’s character is immensely charismatic: fearless, poetry-quoting. Lord’s wife and Christobel are stylish and feisty women. At one point Christobel encourages others to join her sitting on hay bales, which amusingly looks forward to all the beer tents of the modern re-enactment societies (amongst which I well remember ‘refighting’ the English Civil War.) The intricate conspiracy element of the plot was for me a little less interesting than the War itself. Still, I found this a gripping read, and very much look forward to discovering more of this talented author’s work.
