The second novel in Stirling's historical saga brings to light yet more dark secrets, amorous entanglements and murder...

Elspeth and Anna Patterson of Balnesmoor have both married well: Elspeth to a wealthy wool merchant, Anna to the son of a respected factor. But they are far from happy. The two married sisters, leading oddly parallel lives, find themselves entangled in a web of infidelity, scandal, and heartache in the midst of Wellington's Peninsular War on the continent.

The story continues in Hearts of Gold.