Josiah Cole is a small dockside trader in 1787 Bristol-- a city where power and wealth beckon those who dare to take risks. Josiah is willing to gamble everything to be among the 'players.' The only thing he lacks is the right wife. At thirty-four, Frances Scott is penniless and unwed. Her background is indeed aristocratic, making for a perfect match of convenience. Frances's job is to train slaves as house servants. But when Frances meets Mehuru, a priest from an ancient and civilized African land, she learns about the conflicting desires of passion, love, and the vital need for freedom.