Southern bride Catherine Kelly is plunged into a world of danger and deceit in this riveting tale set during the Civil War. Husband Andrew is finally returning home after being wounded in a battle between North and South. Having married him on impulse the day before he left for war, she realizes she barely knows him. When Andrew descends from the train completely enshrouded in black and accompanied by a mysterious woman claiming to be his nurse, Catherine feels more estranged from him than ever.
As she struggles with her feelings, she finds herself gradually drawn to a dark-haired stranger, a dashing newspaper correspondent who makes no secret of his attraction to her. In the midst of her turmoil, someone close draws her into a dangerous mission of espionage. Guilt, suspicion, and the discovery of a double treachery embroil Catherine in a situation that leads ultimately to murder, and causes her to fear for her own life – and her soul.