In the Shadow of the Sun King: the Winding Road to Versailles

The court of King Louis XIV was the envy of all Europe for its grandeur and etiquette. Marc Esprit, a poor but clever and ambitious boy from Normandy, vows that he will be part of this exotic scene. Zoë DuBois is an equally ambitious ward of the court who will change his life and ambitions in ways even this scheming would-be aristocrat can't begin to predict.

After serving as a soldier, young Marc travels to Venice, where a man does not need a title to become successful. With borrowed money, he acquires a fleet of ships. As a ruthless trader in the Middle East, he creates success, wealth, and power in the trade of spices and luxury goods to sell in Venice. And when he saves the Sultan of Turkey from pirates, he gets everything that's coming to him-and more.

Soon, his reputation earns him an invitation to serve the king of France. There, he meets Zoë, who has been left penniless after the death of her titled husband. Desperate to escape her fate, she seduces Marc, who is torn between desire for her and the freedom to further his ambition.

After a tempestuous romance, he deserts her on a remote island to pursue his goal. Five years later, he returns to the island and learns that she has borne him a son. After an acrimonious reunion, she returns to Paris with him, only to further complicate his life.

Ultimately, however, they must work in tandem to accomplish their dreams.