Best friends Whitney Baraday and Patrice Rigby grew up sheltered and carefree on the graceful estates of Maryland. As the world's uneasy peace exploded into war, fate would draw them farther and farther apart. While Patrice rose to international fame as a journalist, Whitney sailed for London, and an extravagant whirlwind romance with the elegant Earl of Swindon. As his Countess, she knew a radieant, timeless joy...until his murder by enemy agents ended all her dreams. When her grief turned to rage, Whitney joined the Allied Secret Service, vowing revenge. She was a reckless player in a shadow game, a beautiful woman who seduced ment's secrets on ballroom floors and between silken sheets. Captured and tortured by the Gestapo, Whitney escaped with a fortune in diamonds and microfilm, on a perilous mission through occupied France. Patrice, desperate to help her long lost friend would risk her own life to find and rescue Whitney...before the relentless maelstrom of war severed their friendship forever.