Megaera's father sold her in marriage at fifteen to Edward Devoran. Edward's extravagance mortgaged her estates and induced him to join a band of smugglers. Meg paid the interest by selling her jewels and when they were gone-Edward was gone too, murdered by his partner Black Bart. Meg became the smuggler Red Meg, took Edward's place and Edward's profits and kept paying her mortgages.Philip St. Eyre wanted to fight Napoleon. Raised as a Frenchman and able to pass as French, he was the perfect spy and had a way to reach France through his father's old friend, the smuggler Pierre. Thus Philip met Red Meg and fell in love.Meg thought Philip was Pierre's by-blow, Philip thought Meg was a common smuggler. To both gently born lovers the match was impossible. Until Black Bart tried to murder Meg, and Philip had to take her to France where her handiness with a pistol saved his life and his mission and exposed all their secrets.