Masque of Honor

From the bestselling author of Veil of Doubt and The Grays of Truth comes a riveting tale of political intrigue, romance, and betrayal set in antebellum Virginia. John “Jack” Mason McCarty and his second cousin Armistead Mason are proud sons of the Virginia aristocracy—and as different as two men can be. Deeply ambitious and politically minded, Armistead has his sights on Congress and demands a level of respect he may not deserve. Jack, too, longs to make a name for himself, if he can stop gambling and drinking long enough to use his considerable wit to his advantage. Jack has little patience for Armistead’s arrogance, while Armistead views Jack as a debaucherous adolescent unworthy of honor or respect—and neither is afraid to voice his opinion of the other. A poisonous animosity begins to fester between the two men, fueled by political schemes, illicit affairs, and scandalous reports in the press. Though the women who love them urge restraint, their bitter dispute nevertheless sets into motion a devastating chain of events that risks much more than their honor. The first book in the Fields of Honor series and based on the true events behind the 1819 Mason–McCarty duel, Masque of Honor is a story of valor, conviction, and the cost of sacrificing one life to forge another.