My name is Lady Grace Cavendish, and I'm Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's favourite Maid of Honour. Everyone thinks growing up at the Royal Court is all parties and feasts and jewels - but mysterious, dangerous things always seem to happen.

Everyone at the Royal Court was so excited today - the marvellous Frost Fair has come to London, and we all went ice skating! But there was a terrible discovery when the body of a man was found at the edge of the frozen river. Why was he killed, and what is the meaning of the silver coins placed over his eyes? Are they a message - or a warning?

When a visit to the St Bartholomew's fair is planned to entertain the guests, Grace jumps at the chance to get out. Not everybody feels the same though and there's a superstition amongst the ladies about the gypsies. When a fire at the fair leaves Lady Sarah injured and a gypsy woman dead, it seems the ladies were right to be worried.

When the court clockmaker, Mr Urseau, is found dead in his workshop, a key clutched in his hand, rumours start flying. Was the murderer his young assistant? Or maybe his wife? Both could be after Urseau's private treasure. And where is the key from? What is it for? Lady Grace is determined to get to the bottom of all these questions

Preparations for the wedding of one of Lady Grace's fellow Maids of Honour are interrupted when a shipment of gold, on its way to the Queen, is stolen. The culprit is a single masked horseman, all in black - or is it a gang of ruffians from the forest?

There's a new arrival - a mysterious and exotic young princess - at court and Lady Grace can't believe how many rumours there are about her already. The exiled Banoo Yasmine from Sharakand is a beautiful girl with a pet panther and - everyone believes - magical powers.