Scotland, 1750, just four years after Bonnie Prince Charlieâs Rising of the Clans, itâs hard to know whoâs loyal to the English and who is faithful to the Stuarts. And itâs beautiful seventeen-year-old Ionaâs perilous mission to ascertain whether the Duke of Arkrae, head of Scotlandâs most powerful clan, is a traitor or is he in cahoots with the English.
Ionaâs mission is to gain the trust of the Duke and his clan by claiming to be the sister he thought to have died as a child. As all around her doubt her claim and call her a "pretender", Iona struggles to hold her nerve. Her wit and steely nerves do not fail her but almost instantly, on meeting the imperious Duke, itâs her heart that lets her down. Sheâs fallen deeply, hopelessly in love! Traitor or not, surely the Duke could never love the Little Pretender who was sent to ensnare him?