The Cherry Fair

A grand, full-blown historical love story, The Cherry Fair relates the story of a passionate ménage a trios played out against the bloody backdrop of war-torn 14th century England.

In 1317, at the d’Arderne family’s annual cherry fair festival, Maria d’Arderne is unhappily betrothed to a much older baron. Maria laments her fate and often ponders a well-known saying, “Life though pleasant, is transitory, even as is the Cherry Fair.” She fears that life is passing her by, and is torn between duty and her attraction to a fabled knight, Phillip Rendell, who arrives for the festivities. Minstrels sing the praises of Phillip, who once saved the life of his lord, Richard of Sussex, at the infamous battle of Bannockburn. Maria is enchanted by the tales and the handsome man before her. Recently returned from years abroad, Phillip knows it’s time to forgo his wandering ways and, as all men must, settle down. While both are betrothed to others, Maria and Phillip brave scandal to elope, seeking shelter and protection from their powerful lord and Phillip’s friend, Richard of Sussex. Following their hasty marriage, Maria happily settles into what she assumes will be a quiet, uneventful life with her beloved husband forever at her side.

But there is nothing quiet about the reign of Edward II.

Attractive, charming, weak, incompetent and largely disinterested in affairs of state, King Edward is haunted by the legacy of his fabled father, Edward I. Increasingly, as Edward II scandalizes his barons with his “unnatural” attractions to foolhardy male favorites, they rebel. Hit and run skirmishes occur; enemies are hanged, drawn and quartered. Civil war looms. Richard of Sussex, who is Edward’s half brother, remains the king’s champion, but most others grow increasingly hostile.

One, Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, a ruthless Marcher lord who was imprisoned for his treasonous acts against Edward II, covets England’s crown for himself. Seducing Edward’s French queen, Isabella, both plot to invade England. Mortimer’s ultimate plan is to depose the nation’s hapless sovereign, replace him with Edward II’s heir, and position himself, Roger Mortimer, as the power behind the throne.

Meanwhile, Phillip Rendell has grown frustrated by his day-to-day life as lord of the manor. Increasingly, he hears the siren song of travel and when he departs England, a devastated Maria eventually turns to Richard of Sussex for solace.

While England collapses about them, Richard tries to save his brother’s kingdom. But Roger Mortimer, as brilliant as he is brutal, captures and imprisons Edward II. Even Queen Isabella becomes uneased by the resultant violence and the knowledge that her lover will stop at nothing to realize his ambition.

Following a three year absence, Phillip returns to England just as Mortimer is readying troops to capture Richard of Sussex. Wearied of traveling and having realized that it was his wife and family, rather than exotic places, that made him happy, Phillip arrives at Dover. There, he is greeted by the news that his wife and his liege lord are lovers. The two people he loved most in the world have committed the ultimate act of betrayal against him.

What will Phillip do now? How will he extract his revenge?

As events reach their climax, Richard is imprisoned, Edward II is murdered in one of history’s most sordid executions, Maria is publicly shamed for her sins, Phillip must decide where his true loyalties lie, and all are painfully reminded that “Life though pleasant is transitory, even as is the Cherry Fair.”

Originally published to glowing reviews as The Lion and the Leopard (Crown Publishers), The Cherry Fair has been reworked and re-edited. Nearly 70 pages have been added, including a new ending, to bring it more in line with the author’s original vision.