Shortly before the great Indian mutiny, young Winter de Ballesteros leaves England for India to marry Conway Barton, the Commissioner of Lunjore, whom she has not seen since childhood. Her escort is Barton's aide, Captain Alex Randall. The long tumultuous journey brings them through Calcutta to Delhi and finally to Lunjore in 1856-- on the eve of the Mutiny itself.

"The story of Winter de Ballesteros, a beautiful English heiress who has come to India to be married. It is also the tale of Captain Alex Randall, her escort and protector, who knows that Winter's husband-to-be has become a debauched wreck of a man. When India bursts into flaming hatreds and bitter bloodshed during the dark days of the Mutiny, Alex and Winter are thrown unwillingly together in the brutal and urgent struggle for survival"--From back cover.