On the eve of his coronation, Rudolf of Ruritania has been drugged and kidnapped. Without attending the coronation, his crown is forfeit, and Ruritania will be ruled by his kidnapper, unless . . . unless the king's visiting English cousin takes his place. But for Cousin Rudolf, it takes more than a doppelganger's looks to be a convincing stand-in until the king can be rescued. Will he be discovered? Schemes, swordplay, madmen, and forbidden love obstruct the path of this unlikely hero.