Rosscan’tresistrespondingtohisdubiously-jailedformerVirginiacampaignCOandmatecolonelNedDespard’spleatohelpliberatehimandfighttheMosquitoCoastwoodcompanyconspiratorswhoeliminatedhimascompetition.Elisabeth’sdeath’inchildbirth’embittersGeorgefurther,nearinsanity,unabletotolerateevenValentinereferringtohislatemother,andevenmoreeagerforrevengeoncuckoldingRoss.henotonlyrefusestohonorhispledgetopayforGeoffreyCharles’sswitchfromacademictomilitaryeducationbutplanstoallyhimselfwithNed’snemesiscompanybossRalphHansonandmaybeevenhisdaughterCecily,whoseemstohaveherowndarkplans.Ned’scoloredwifejoinstheabolitionmovement.DrakeshowsboundlesspatiencewhenhiswifeMorwenaremainsunableto’stand’physicalintimacy.RossfindsamagistratewillinghelpDespardwhomhefailedtospareconviction,especiallyafterthegovernmentasksRosstodo’secretservices’afterhepreventsanarmed…WrittenbyKGFVissers