The Queen's Guard: Peony

Set in the winter of 1147, the second book in The Queen's Guard series follows Lady Catherine le Rochefort, who was welcomed into the ranks of Queen Eleanor's guard after escaping a deadly encounter. The French army makes its way through Asia Minor, which King Louis determined to recapture Edessa, a holy undertaking blessed by the Pope. After leaving Constantinople, Queen Eleanor waits with her guard and retinue in Nicea for King Louis to decide which route the caravan should take toward Antioch and her uncle Raymond's palace. Eleanor caused trouble in Constantinople, so Louis asks his trusted friend Lord Payen de Montfer to infiltrate the guard and listen for dissent. Payen, whose painful past has taught him that beauty makes a man weak, does his best to ignore the fair Catherine, while Catherine tries to protect her deadly secret from the observant man. Catherine seeks only to reach Jerusalem, where absolution awaits, but soon she's fighting her feelings for Payen. If the two give in to their attraction, Payen's honor is at stake and Catherine fears she could lose her soul.