Set between 1816 and 1819 in Virginia and Washington D.C., this historical fiction centers on the intense rivalry between Armistead Mason and John “Jack” McCarty Mason. As wealthy, second-generation descendants of founding father George Mason IV, they emerge from the War of 1812 as politically active, yet aligned with opposing parties. Armistead, a celebrated war hero, fervently supports the Democratic Republican party and dreams of the presidency. Meanwhile, Jack, influenced by his upbringing near General George Washington, staunchly advocates for Federalist ideals.

Their bitter conflict escalates against a backdrop of aristocratic Virginia society and political maneuvering. The tension reaches a peak with a fatal duel, fueled by personal grievances aired publicly through the press and driven by manipulative political rivals. It’s a dramatic narrative of love, honor, and tragedy, examining how aspirations and ideologies can lead to irreversible consequences, breaking one life and forging another in the crucible of history.