FitzDuncan's Fortune

In which no good deed goes unrewarded... or is it, unpunished?

Be careful what you seek, it may be more than you thought.

A new client engages Caz to stop his mother from being blackmailed for a minor indiscretion years earlier. Though Caz stops the blackmail, he has no time to liberate a massive stash of gold he finds in the cellar of corrupt judge's house.

Returning to his apartment, he finds the assassin Fenwick waiting for him. Now working for the king, Fenwick takes Caz on a mission to the southern continent and the country of Scaramouche. In the midst of Fenwick's "business" his target is killed by others and Fenwick and Caz are imprisoned.

After a daring escape, Caz returns to Aquileia just in time for his wedding to the lovely Lucy. Waiting for him is the crown prince, who presents several boons to Caz. One of them, the greatest gift Caz could hope for (other than marrying Lucy), will consume all of Caz and Lucy's time and attention after the wedding.

When a gift carries with it a back-breaking obligation, is it still a gift?