The King's Thief

It's seventeenth century England. Charles II has ascended to the throne following the defeat and death of Oliver Cromwell, many seeing it as a new era for the kingdom, especially for those loyal to Charles II in fighting with his troops against Cromwell. One of those is Lady Mary Offendon, who has been in exile in France during Cromwell's reign in her Father, Lord Arthur Offendon, being loyal to Charles II. She may have a change of heart when she learns that her father, who fought with Charles against Cromwell, has been executed by the King for treason on the testimony of the King's most trusted advisor, the Duke of Brampton. Mary further learns the rumor that the Duke, the wealthiest man in England, has been pillaging the fortunes of those he has accused, falsely, of treason largely to line his own pockets rather than have those fortunes turned over to the crown, the rumor, true, about which somewhat naive Charles is totally unaware. She does however decide to return to England to learn the situation first hand. In England, under the pseudonym Mary Knight to hide her true identity, she meets Michael Dermott, a former Captain in Charles' army who was not paid because of the Duke. Michael has turned to a life of crime leading a band of highwaymen, also former unpaid soldiers, who have had a run in with the Duke. Michael believes he is in possession of proof of the Duke's planned systematic elimination of those noblemen, like Lord Offendon, loyal to Charles, its purpose, unknown to Michael, more nefarious than just lining his own pockets. Michael and Mary not only have to hold on to that proof, but convince Charles that the Duke is working against him and not for him.