An ancient mansion between river and sea. A world where love could flourish—or die...

Charpentier...the graceful plantation house, glowing like molten copper in the storm-washed evening sun, seemed to rise from the river’s black and brooding waters. Home, Rosamund thought. Peace. But Rosamund was far from home and the brightly lit comforts of reason. Here she would care for the once-beautiful mistress of the house, who lived in a twilight realm of madness and delusions.

Peace too was a distant, wistful memory. Drawn to Charles, the powerful, brusque master of Charpentier, Rosamund fought a desire that quickened and burned, afraid that their love would spark an uncontrollable fury...