Fields of Honor · Book 2
Bargains of Fate
"Every bargain has a price."
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About This Book
A story rooted in real history, brought to life through fiction
It is 1822, and Jack McCarty has put the duel behind him—or so he believes. Building a reputation as one of Loudoun County's finest attorneys and a life with the woman he loves, Jack is determined to escape the choices that once defined him.
But fate has other plans.
When his troubled kinsman Dennis McCarty arrives at his door in desperate need of help, Jack is drawn into a murder case that will test his skill as an attorney and force him to reckon with the competing demands of justice, loyalty, and family. At the same time, Fanny Lee is making dangerous choices of her own, pursuing a love that promises the future she longs for but carries consequences neither she nor those closest to her can escape. As secrets multiply and loyalties fracture, Jack finds himself pulled into conflicts far beyond the courtroom. A bitter feud between two physicians threatens to end on the dueling ground. A trusted friend offers Jack the chance to fulfill his political ambitions. And his brother William's increasingly secretive dealings leave Jack wondering whom he can trust. When the Marquis de Lafayette comes to Leesburg, everything Jack has struggled to hold together begins to unravel. With old wounds reopened and new betrayals exposed, Jack is confronted once again by the code of honor he thought he had left behind. This time, the bargain may demand more than he is willing to pay.
Bargains of Fate is a story of love and ambition, loyalty and betrayal, and the choices that alter not only our own lives, but the lives of everyone we love.
1822–1825 · Leesburg, Virginia & Washington City
The Seeds of Rivalry
On Christmas Eve 1822, at Belmont — the Leesburg home of Colonel Ludwell Lee — the political and personal tensions between brothers Jack and William McCarty come into the open, setting in motion the bargains and betrayals that define the book.
A Tightening Web
Jack has fought his way toward the future he once imagined, but the choices of those he loves draw the McCartys into a tightening web of desire, secrecy, scandal, and divided loyalties. When a kinsman arrives at Jack's door in the dead of night, the peace of Loudoun County shatters.
Every Bargain Has Its Price
In 1825, the dueling ground calls Jack back to Bladensburg. What happens there tests every bargain he has made — and reshapes every relationship in Jack's orbit. Every bargain has its price—even when someone else is asked to pay it.
- The Marquis de Lafayette's Farewell Tour — During his celebrated return to the United States, Lafayette visited Leesburg on August 9, 1825, where thousands gathered to welcome him. His itinerary included a visit to Temple Hall for a baptism.
- The Presidential Election of 1824 and the "Corrupt Bargain" — With no candidate winning an Electoral College majority, the presidential election was decided by the House of Representatives. John Quincy Adams prevailed after Henry Clay supported him, and Jackson's supporters charged that Clay's subsequent appointment as Secretary of State was part of a "corrupt bargain."
- The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal — Congressman Charles Fenton Mercer became one of the leading advocates for a canal linking the Chesapeake with western markets along the Potomac, part of the growing national debate over federally supported internal improvements.
- The American Colonization Society — Mercer was a prominent leader of the American Colonization Society, which advocated relocating free Black Americans to Africa. The organization and its aims were part of the broader national struggle over slavery, emancipation, race, and citizenship.
- The Murder Trial of Dennis McCarty — In 1825, Dennis McCarty became the defendant in a highly consequential criminal trial in Virginia. Jack McCarty and attorney Thomas Mason served as his counsel, and the case was moved from Loudoun County to Prince William County. Surviving court records preserve extensive testimony from the proceedings.
- Craney Island and the War of 1812 — Dennis McCarty served as a captain in the Virginia militia during the War of 1812 and was among the men who served at Craney Island during the Chesapeake campaign.
Sharon weaves these real events into the fabric of the story, creating a narrative that honors the actual people and moments that shaped this era.
Charles Fenton Mercer
U.S. Congressman
Mercer remains one of the most influential figures in Jack's life, drawing him into debates over the presidency, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, political patronage, and how much principle a man should surrender in pursuit of ambition.
John Quincy Adams
Sixth President of the United States
Adams's contested election and new administration become closely tied to Jack's political hopes, while the president's presence during Lafayette's Virginia tour brings national politics directly into Jack's world.
Marquis de Lafayette
Revolutionary War hero and honored guest of the nation
During his celebrated farewell tour of America, Lafayette arrives in Leesburg in August 1825, where his visit draws thousands and becomes the setting for one of the novel's most consequential turns.
Loudoun County and Northern Virginia, 1822–1825. The story moves through Leesburg and the surrounding countryside—from courtrooms and taverns to Belmont, Llangollen, and the estates of Loudoun County—before reaching beyond Virginia to the infamous dueling grounds at Bladensburg, Maryland.
From the Pages of Bargains of Fate
“You mustn’t grant the past permission to rule your future.
“Fate has a way of thwarting our deepest wants, doesn’t it?
“Mrs. Dulaney’s rejection would not define her.
Where This Book Fits in the Series
The Fields of Honor Series · 1816–1843
Six novels. Twenty-seven years. One man's journey from a dueling field to redemption.
Identity — Who are you when the person you believe yourself to be is put to the test?
Choice — What are you willing to sacrifice for the life you want?
Integrity — Can you remain who you are when the world rewards you for becoming someone else?
Restraint — When does holding the line become its own kind of choice?
Responsibility — Can you escape the consequences of a world you choose to leave behind?
Courage — What do we owe one another when standing aside is also a choice?
What Readers Are Saying
"A fabulous immersion in this piece of American history—a real page turner with action and characters that never ebb."
— Historical Novel Society
Historical Novel Society"Virts does it again — richer, deeper, and even harder to put down than the first."
— Early Reader
Goodreads
"A masterful follow-up. The courtroom scenes alone are worth the read."
— Early Reader
Goodreads
"The characters feel like people I actually know. I finished it in two days."
— Goodreads Reviewer
Goodreads
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