1811 in the prosperous port city of Charleston bustles with immigrants, such as the raven-haired Adalia Winston. But Adalia is runaway slave Althea from Barbados. Skilled in herbal remedies, she finds employment with a local doctor and settles into a quiet life.

Born into a prominent family, Morgan Rutledge is handsome, bored—and falls for the beautiful Adalia, who spurns his advances. Morgan persists, however, and finally sweeps Adalia into glamorous high society. But Adalia's new life comes at a high price. How long can she deny her heritage and her God?