Once a starveling bootblack, Christien Lenoir has risen to become the sword master known as <I>Faucon,</i> the Falcon. When a desperate gambler stakes his plantation in a late-night card game, sharp-eyed Christien antes up. For he wants River's Edge&mdash;<I>and</i> the tempestuous widow whose birthright it is. And he will stop at nothing to have both.<P>Reine Cassard Pingre feels trapped: the only way to keep her beloved home&mdash;and her inheritance&mdash;is to accept Christien's bold proposal of marriage. Though she instantly mistrusts his purpose, and despite rumors that she had a hand in her husband's mysterious death, Reine cannot dissuade him from wedding&hellip;and bedding&hellip;her. Their union is electrifying, but the honeymoon may be cut short by the lurid secrets at the heart of River's Edge.