A Column of Fire

Mary has been forced to abdicate the Scottish throne and relinquish it to her son, James. Alison and Mary are now imprisoned in Loch Leven castle following the murder of Mary’s husband, Lord Henry Darnley. Seizing an opportunity during the May Day festivities, the women disguise themselves and prepare to escape with the help of Sir William Douglas's sons. They sneak out and row across the water to freedom. Two weeks later, however, Mary’s Catholic army is defeated, forcing her to go on the run again. Despite Alison's pleas to return to France, Mary insists on seeking Elizabeth's help in England. Mary believes that her true claim to the English throne will make Elizabeth support her.

In England, Ned updates Queen Elizabeth on Mary's movements, and he and Cecil advise imprisoning her. Elizabeth agrees, and Ned delivers the news to Mary in Carlisle. Mary is devastated that Elizabeth will not meet with her, as she expected Elizabeth's help. She realizes that she will be imprisoned until the investigation into her husband's murder is resolved.

After his mother's death, Ned inherits the house. He attempts to gift it to Barney, but Barney refuses because he plans to continue his seafaring life. Ned then talks with Margery, who reveals that she now has a son named Bartlet as a result of Swithin’s assault. She asks if Ned thinks less of her, and he reassures her that he doesn’t. They reminisce about their past. As Ned has been appointed the Lord of Wigleigh by Queen Elizabeth, he needs to discuss land issues with Bart. Margery invites him to dinner with them. Her feelings regarding Ned's visit force her to confront her marriage with Bart and his infidelities. During the dinner, they are joined by a man named Stephen, who dislikes Elizabeth. Although tensions rise, pitting Ned against Bart and Stephen, Ned remains calm and uses diplomacy to resolve the issue.

He later contemplates the challenges of maintaining religious tolerance in England, especially with the looming threat of King Felipe of Spain. Ned tells Barney about his concerns, and Barney, in turn, gives Ned advice on naval strategies. Ned also talks with Dan Cobley, who informs him about a secret Catholic mass led by Father Paul. Ned advises Father Paul to relocate the service to avoid conflict with the Puritans, emphasizing Queen Elizabeth's desire for peace. Bart tells Margery to meet Ned in his place. Ned and Margery visit Wigleigh. Later, they share an intimate moment, leading to a sexual encounter. Rollo receives news of the Pope's excommunication of Queen Elizabeth, and Margery does not understand why her brother is happy that every English Catholic is now a traitor. She and Ned continue their secret relationship, but guilt and external pressures escalate when religious intolerance and arrests begin in Kingsbridge. Sheriff Matthewson arrives to arrest Stephen on false charges of treason, causing distress for Margery and her family. Ned is conflicted but does not reveal Stephen's hiding spot.

In Douai, Rollo approaches a man named Lenny and expresses his desire to restore Catholicism in England. Lenny introduces Rollo to William Allen and Pierre. Pierre assigns Rollo the alias “Jean Langlais” and discusses their opposition to Queen Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Ned prepares to leave for a mission in France, and Margery decides to end their affair, choosing her loyalty to God and her involvement with secret Catholic activities. However, she later discovers that she is pregnant.

In 1572, Ned, working with Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's ambassador in France, navigates the delicate diplomatic climate, especially since Walsingham tends to offend Catholics. Ned also receives a visit from Sylvie, who sells ink and paper but reveals that she also sells French Bibles. He admires her courage and considers her a hero for risking her life for her beliefs. Meanwhile, Rollo has been tasked with escorting Catholic Englishmen back to England. Pierre warns him against encountering Walsingham and his assistant, Ned, and Rollo regrets not dealing with Ned earlier.

Ned and Walsingham attend the Louvre court, where Ned encounters Jeronima (Barney’s love interest in earlier chapters). Jeronima mistakes Ned for Barney. They talk, and Ned decides to use her as an informant on Cardinal Romero, as she is now his mistress. He flirts with other women for information, gaining insights about Princess Margot, and eventually meets with the king privately. Meanwhile, Pierre uses his chief spy, Biron, to find Walsingham and Ned's weaknesses. King Charles announces the marriage of Margot and Henri de Bourbon, an enemy of the Guises. However, Pierre thinks that the wedding may cause conflict that they can use to their advantage. Sylvie asks Pierre’s servant, Nath, about Rollo and then meets with Ned to sell him the Bibles. She also tells Ned about Pierre’s meeting with Rollo. She and Ned bond over their shared failed marriages, and Sylvie’s mother, Isabelle, later asks if she is in love.

Barney anchors his ship, the Alice, in Hispaniola. He plans to meet Bella (Don Alfonso’s illegitimate daughter), and he wonders if she has married during his absence. He negotiates with the new mayor, Don Jordi, for a trading license. After inquiring at Bella’s old home, he learns that she now lives on Don Alfonso's estate, which he left to her. There he finds Bella deathly ill with dandy fever (another name for dengue fever). She reveals that Barney has a son named Barnardo Alfonso Willard, whom she calls Alfo. She asks Barney to protect him. However, Alfo is angry at Barney's absence and demands that he return to England. Barney lets him yell. Alfo eventually stops, and Bella peacefully closes her eyes.

Sylvie has increased her illegal book sales to Huguenots in France during the royal wedding preparations. She worries about being caught but is reassured by her time with Ned, and they end up kissing. Her mother suggests that Sylvie marry Ned quickly, but Sylvie hesitates due to her dedication to the gospel. Ned, giddy after the kiss, realizes that he is being followed. He confronts the man and learns that Georges Biron, Pierre’s spy, sent him. Pierre goes to Sylvie's shop after learning about Ned's involvement with her. He confronts her, and she bravely stands up to him, revealing that she is aware of his true heritage. Sylvie's mother intervenes and orders him to leave.

As the royal wedding begins, Ned worries about potential disruptions due to tensions between Catholics and Huguenots. Jeronima informs him that if there is a riot, Henri de Guise has organized an assassination plan targeting influential Protestants. Ned later intervenes to prevent a riot from occurring in order to ensure that the marriage proceeds peacefully. Pierre, desperate for violence, plans to assassinate Coligny. The attempt fails, and Pierre escapes before being discovered.

Although Coligny survives, tensions rise among the Huguenots, and Ned fears the repercussions of Elizabeth's plans in France. King Charles arrives and promises to find the person responsible for the attempt on Coligny’s life, although he ignores the suggestion that it is Henri de Guise. Ned sends a letter to Queen Elizabeth. Later, he visits Sylvie's shop and learns that Pierre has found her. Sylvie and Ned try to retrieve the list of targeted Protestants from Pierre's house, but the list is missing. They realize that Pierre might use it, prompting them to warn as many people as possible.

Furious that no riots have started and that Coligny is alive, Henri confronts Pierre. Pierre attempts to save his position by suggesting they act as if the rebellion has already begun. Henri is skeptical of the plan, but Pierre promises that there will be no consequences to him if the plan fails. Pierre goes to the mayor, Le Charron, and convinces him to meet the king. He then manipulates Charles and Caterina into believing that there is the threat of a riot, thereby securing approval to lock the city gates and arm the militia. Pierre gives Le Charron the list of targeted Protestants (minus the noble targets) and instructs him to kill those listed. He then fabricates a story to get Coligny arrested. Duke Henri and soldiers storm Coligny's residence, killing him in the process. Pierre claims victory, and Henri orders the bell to signal a riot.

Amidst the chaos in Paris, Sylvie rushes to warn Protestants. She narrowly escapes an attack at Marquess Lagny's house and hides. Meanwhile, Ned races through the streets to reach her. He rescues a woman from attackers and later discovers Sylvie's hiding place. The two embrace in relief, and Ned tells her that he loves her. Meanwhile, Pierre is pleased with the success of the carnage he orchestrated. Seeking revenge on Sylvie and her mother, he heads to their store. Isabelle shoots at them and refuses to give up her daughter. She then dies by suicide. Pierre and his men burn the shop down. Sylvie and Ned find the devastation but are forced to leave Isabelle’s body behind and flee to the embassy, where Ned claims that Sylvie is his wife in order to get her to safety.

Rollo and a group of priests arrive in England. Despite Rollo's concerns about potential betrayal, they successfully land and are led to a safe house by Margery. Driven by her faith, Margery guides the priests in delivering sacraments to local Catholics. She plans to ensure the priests’ safety as they move across England. Reflecting on the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Margery expresses her aversion to violence against defenseless people. She recounts her happiness upon learning that Ned survived, but she is sad to learn that he is married to someone else. Meanwhile, Sylvie, who is newly married to Ned, visits Kingsbridge and is captivated by the town's charm. She admires the cathedral's design and interacts with Huguenot families. During their stay, Sylvie meets Barney, Ned's brother, and his son Alfo. Sylvie enjoys the festival of Pentecost, where she encounters Margery and Bart and becomes aware that Margery's son, Roger, is also Ned's child. Back at home, Sylvie reveals to Ned that she knows and expresses acceptance of his past. Ned assures her of his commitment to their marriage, and they share an intimate moment.