THE
COLOUR OF RUBIES
Murder
lurks at the heart of the royal court in the rabbit warren of the Palace of
Westminster. The year is 1480. Treason is afoot amongst the squalid grandeur
and opulent filth of this medieval world of contrasts. Even the Office of the
King’s Secretary hides a dangerous secret.
Meeting
with lords and lackeys, clerks, courtiers and the mighty King Edward himself,
can Seb Foxley decipher the encoded messages and name the spy?
Will
Seb be able to prevent the murder of the most important heir in England?
All
will be revealed as we join Seb Foxley and his abrasive brother Jude in the
latest intriguing adventure amid the sordid shadows of fifteenth-century
London.
Visit Toni Mount's website and bookshelf HERE
Praise
for Toni Mount's The Colour of Rubies
Tony Riches, author of The Tudor Trilogy “An evocative masterclass in
storytelling.”
Carol McGrath, author of the She-wolves trilogy “I was utterly transported - It’s superb”. “What
a plot. What characters. Perfect pitch”.
“I loved the relationship between Seb and
Jude”.
“The Colour of Rubies is a totally immersive experience as richly
stitched as one of King Edward IV’s gorgeous tapestries. This cleverly plotted
novel with its twists and turns will keep a reader page turning late into the
night until the book’s final scenes. Sebastian and Jude are wonderfully
realised personalities with similar emotions, concerns, fears and hopes we have
have today. Their medieval London felt real and intriguing to me with
unexpected dangers lurking in alleyways. I felt as if I was walking in Sebastian’s
footsteps. With this thrilling novel Toni Mount has shown herself a master of
medieval suspense. More please”.
Praise
for Toni Mount's Sebastian Foxley Medieval Murder Series
Tracy Borman, historian and broadcaster “An atmospheric and
compelling thriller that takes the reader to the dark heart of medieval London.”
Matthew
Lewis author of Richard III Loyalty Binds Me “Toni Mount continues to delight with the superbly crafted
Seb Foxley mysteries. Impeccable research and sculpted characters combine with
an engaging narrative to create another irresistible story. This series goes
from strength to strength, and I’m already looking forward to the next
instalment”
J.P.
Reedman, author of the I, RICHARD PLANTAGENET series: “Sebastian Foxley is the Cadfael of the 15th
century”.
“The Sebastian Foxley Medieval Mystery Series
by Toni Mount is not only filled by dastardly murders and gripping intrigue but
contains many well-researched historical facts from the Wars of the Roses era”
Samantha
Willcoxson, author &
historian “Toni
Mount is simply brilliant”.
“If you love CJ Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake (and I
do) you will love Toni’s Sebastian Foxley”.
“From learning how a 15th century
scrivener created illuminated manuscripts to venturing within the dank tunnels
beneath the Tower of London, Toni is an artist who completely immerses the
reader in another time and place and always leaves one eager for the next
book.”
Stephanie Churchill, author of historical fiction and epic fantasy “Leave
it to Seb to unravel another international spiderweb of intrigue, betrayal,
murder, and deceit. Our flawed, loveable hero has done it again. And at the end
of it all, his future is looking brighter than ever. I cannot wait to find out
what happens to him next!”
Sharon
Bennet Connoly, author and medieval historian
“A beautifully crafted mystery that brings the dark, dangerous streets of
medieval London to life. Toni Mount is a magician with words, weaving a
captivating story in wonderful prose. The Colour of Evil is, to put it simply,
a pleasure to read.”
Rosalie Gilbert, medieval historian and author “The
author's knowledge of medieval history shines through the narrative in the
small details which enhance the story woven into it. The details about the
inside workings of medieval trade practices lent themselves perfectly for a
background to murder and deceit”.
“Recommended for lovers of historic fiction.”
Joanne R Larner author
of Richard Liveth Yet trilogy: “I
always look forward to a new 'Colour of...' book. I can't wait to see what
escapades Seb Foxley and his brother, Jude, get up to next. They, and all the
characters, are endearing and colourful. The books are always well written,
conjuring 15th century London into the reader's mind and the plots are
excellent!'
Mel Starr bestselling author of the Hugh de
Singleton chronicles: “If I believed in reincarnation I would be willing
to think that Toni Mount lived a previous life in 15th century London.
The scents, the sights, the tastes of the late Middle Ages are superbly
rendered.”
¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨) ✮ (
¸.•´✶
EXCERPT
The Palace of Westminster
The Great Gate was impressive, its ancient stone ivy-clad,
its turrets snow-capped and the Royal Standard flapping above in the fitful
flurries of icy flakes. The guards in their bright liveries stamped their boots
and blew on their hands, puffing out white clouds with every breath. Keeping
watch in January was a duty none enjoyed. They recognised Jude and waved him
through, ignoring Seb as a person of little consequence, unlikely to endanger
King Edward in any way.
The Inner Gate into Green Yard was far less imposing but the
solitary guard there demanded to know their business. Mayhap, he was in need of
some activity or company to pass the time.
'Who goes there?' he demanded, barring the way with his
halberd.
'Walter, you bloody nincompoop, it's me,' Jude said. 'You
know me better than your own father – if you ever knew him at all.'
'Bloody Foxley,' the guard growled. 'What brings you back on
a Saturday afternoon?
And who's this?' He nodded at Seb.
'My brother. He's a scribe like me and we've got work to do
for Secretary Oliver – not that it's any business of yours.'
'Mind your mouth, Foxley. I can throw you in the lock-up
anytime I like and you'll freeze to death in there afore you can say your Paternoster.
And why's your brother here? He ain't a King's Clerk and if he's half the
bloody trouble you are, he's not welcome.'
'He has permission; a written warrant.' Jude took a paper
from his purse and offered it to the guard, fully aware that Walter was illiterate as a
blind sheep. 'You want to read it?'
The guard shook his head.
'Just keep out of my sight, the pair of you. Any trouble and
you'll have my halberd shoved up your arse with a ribbon on it.'
Jude was sniggering as he led Seb to a side door.
'You upset him. Why did you taunt him so, not to mention the
lies you told?' Seb asked, knocking a dark mess of slush and ashes off his boots
against the stone step.
Jude didn't bother, treading mucky footsteps along the
passage within.
'Forwhy Walter's an ignorant pig. He knows I have the
measure of him, the damned jackanapes, and lying is just the Westminster way – nobody
tells the truth here. Besides, this clerkship job would be unutterably tedious
if I didn't have folk like him and Piers Creed to make mock of. Did I tell you
about Creed the Farter?'
'Aye, you did, more than once.'
'This here is Secretary Oliver's joyous house of
entertainment,' Jude announced, stopping at a closed door. 'Scene of my life-wasting
scribbling and associated tortures.
Coldest place on earth, if I know anything, where we sit and
feel our bollocks shrivel and fall off, if we're not careful. You want to see
inside, if it's not locked? Creed is probably still working like an idiot.'
Jude tried the door, lifted the latch. It squealed open and,
sure enough, there was Piers Creed, as Jude had half expected, bent over his
desk, pen in hand. Despite the noise, the clerk didn't look up.
'Jesu's sake, Piers, you farting, foolish fucker, can't you
think of anything better to do on our free afternoon? Go play bloody snowballs or
something. Hey! Don't ignore me. How can you sleep in here? It's too damned
cold.'
Jude kicked the clerk's stool to rouse him from his nap. But
Piers did not waken. He slid across his desk and toppled off the stool, the pen
yet held fast in his fingers.
'Wake up, you idiot.'
Jude grabbed his fellow before he should fall to the floor
and hurt himself. He shook him but it did no good.
Seb lowered himself to the flagstones with care. He removed
his gloves and touched the clerk's cheek.
'His skin be icy.'
'So would any man's be in this place. See? The brazier isn't
alight. Come on, Piers, rouse yourself, you idle...'
'Shouting at him will have no effect, I fear.' Seb put his
fingers to the pulse point under the angle of the jaw. ''Tis a sorrowful thing, Jude,
but your friend be dead. We must fetch a priest to him, straightway.'
Toni Mount
Toni
Mount is the author of several successful non-fiction books including How to
Survive in Medieval England and the number one best-seller, Everyday Life in
Medieval England. Her specialty is the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages
and her enthusiastic understanding of the period allows her to create accurate,
atmospheric settings and realistic characters for her medieval mysteries. Her
main character, Sebastian Foxley is a humble but talented medieval artist and
was created as a project as part of her university diploma in creative writing.
Toni earned her history BA from The Open University and her Master’s Degree from
the University of Kent by completing original research into a unique 15th-century medical manuscript.
Toni
writes regularly for both The Richard III Society and The Tudor Society and is
a major contributor to MedievalCourses.com. As well as writing, Toni teaches history to
adults and is a popular speaker to groups and societies.
