William the Bastard, base-born son of the Duke of Normandy, must fight the King of France to regain his Duchy. Spurned in love by the Princess Matilda, the fighting Duke dares to take a whip to her in her own father"s palace, before making her his bride. William the Conqueror sails to England to claim the Saxon King"s crown and sceptre for his own. Это и многое другое вы найдете в книге Conqueror (Georgette Heyer)