Dear rebel

the long version

Like many men in his position, Lord Carthorne was more concerned to protect his property, the lovely manor of Waterlea in the Fens of East Anglia, than to take sides in the escalating war between Charles I and his Parliament. So he had no hesitation about using the childhood betrothal between his daughter Alys and Cromwell's captain, Sir Garret Hartswood, to get out of trouble. This was an enormous shock to Alys, who had forgotten the betrothal, and was a fervent Cavalier to boot. There seemed to be no escape from Garret's relentless intention to honour the agreement.