A great tale the golden thread that led to the crown of England' Conn Iggulden Jasper Tudor son of Queen Catherine & her second husband Owen Tudor has grown up far from the intrigue of the royal court But after he & his brother Edmund are summoned to London their half-brother King Henry VI takes a keen interest in their future Bestowing Earldoms on them both Henry also gives them the wardship of the young heiress Margaret Beaufort Although she is still a child Jasper becomes devoted to her & is devastated when Henry arranges her betrothal to Edmund He seeks solace in his estates & in the arms of Jane Hywel a young Welsh woman who offers him something more meaningful than a dynastic marriage But passion turns to jeopardy for them both as the Wars of the Roses wreak havoc on the realm Loyal brother to a fragile king & his domineering queen Marguerite of Anjou Jasper must draw on all his guile & courage to preserve their throne & the Tudor destiny