All Saint?s Eve, 1211. An overweight but wealthy nobleman, desperate for an heir, dies at the celebration feast he?s thrown in his own hall. A natural death . . . or at the hands of his reluctant new wife?Sabin de Gifford, an apothecary and healer of note, is called to examine the body, and concludes that he died of a spasm to the heart. But she is troubled, all the same, and beset by suspicions. Did the man really die of a heart attack? Or was something more sinister to blame?There is only one person Sabin can turn to for help: fellow healer Meggie, daughter of Sir Josse d?Acquin. But what she requires of her is dangerous indeed . . .