His first command, thrust upon him in the grim heat of battle, led Captain Lord Ramage to a daring rescue on the shores of Tuscany. Now, years later, he is faced with new orders returning him to the Mediterranean. Since the outbreak of fresh hostilities between Britain and France, Admiralty spies have been hunting for British officers and allies trapped on the mainland, among them Ramage's first love, Gianna, the Marchesa di Volterra. Reports from these spies send Ramage back to the Tuscan coast, where Bonaparte holds a group of hostages for an unknown fate. But have the Admiralty's sources found the hostages' true prison? Still grieving over the disappearance of his wife, Sarah, Ramage must lead the daring crew of the Calypso into enemy waters, venture deep inland where Napoleon's invincible armies wait, locate the hostages, and- against all odds-bring them to safety!