He sits alone in the ancient tavern, haggard, despondent, blind to the nervous glances of the patrons who drift in from the unpleasant night. Who is he, this stranger in their midst? Why is he there?Speculation swirls, whispers of a life at sea and promises to an old shipmate, but only the pretty, young barmaid cares enough to draw out the truth. What she learns is a story of naked ambition and revenge, opportunities lost and the depths of grief, but above all, the power of transcendent love.In the spring of 1812, as the prospect of war with England grips the new nation, a young printer falls in love with a woman trapped in a loveless marriage--to one of the most ambitious politicians in the state.Searching for happiness through the maze of colonial mores and current events, they find their lives swept up by the tide of history. In the end love proves it can be found in the most unexpected places and unexpected ways.