Robert Devereux is England's rising star. But for one star to rise, another must fall.

Queen Elizabeth I has grown old. Friends are either dead or dying, and Elizabeth now presides over a court of young men and women to whom she is not Gloriana but only an irascible old woman in danger of outliving her usefulness. But Elizabeth is not a spent force quite yet and her magnificence attracts the attention of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.

The country's darling, Essex is young and handsome, daring and brave. He is also ambitious. Unwilling to be Elizabeth's slave as other favourites before him, Essex chafes at his bonds and continually challenges her authority.

Tender towards Essex, Elizabeth repeatedly forgives his unruly behaviour. But Essex grows proud, fuelled by the love of the people, and mounts a rebellion against his queen.

But Elizabeth is not as weak as Essex supposes. Lacking popular support, his rebellion fails and Essex is arrested for treason.

Elizabeth loved him once, but can she forgive him for trying to steal her crown? Can Elizabeth allow Essex to live?