At the age of seventeen, Christian Hill impulsively defends young Dorcas Froggatt's honor --- and finds himself forced into marriage. That doesn't stop him from pursuing his military career abroad, where he swiftly puts his young bride out of his mind --- until the past comes back to haunt him. Not long after her traumatic marriage, Dorcas hears that her new husband, Hill, has died in battle. She's shocked to discover that he's not only still alive, but searching for her. She's determined not to sacrifice her independence, not expecting the true dangers she'll soon face and, even less, the true love she'll discover with the man who rescued her all those years ago.