The Concubine. Unexpected Circumstances, #5

Royalty requires sacrifice. As King Camden's health declines, the need for an heir becomes crucial, impossible to ignore.  With no other viable choice, Alexandra must stand stoically by when Hadley comes to the court of Silverhelm as Branford's concubine.   The queen's edict of duty echoes through Alexandra's mind as she accepts the loathsome conditions for the sake of the kingdom.  The only person more devastated by the circumstances is Branford himself.
As Branford spurns Alexandra's affections and King Edgar continues to press his post-war advantage, all seems lost to the young couple.  Treachery still lies deep within the castle of Silverhelm, and the revelation of the traitor will come from the least likely of sources.