TIMOTHY - He was not the husband of Kara's dreams, but he would have to do, as Kara drove him to the heights of political power and the depths of degradation. AMORY - He was Kara's father-in-law, the very model of a perfect southern aristocrat. But Kara knew the weakness of his flesh and how to use it to make him her slave. CHARLES - He was the one man whom Kara really wanted, even if she had to battle not only his violently jealous wife but his incredibly beautiful quadroon mistress to make him hers body and soul. Men were Kara's playthings, power her god - and she would sacrifice anyone and anything on the altar of her ambition. . . .