To Have and to Hold

Summary

In the opulent yet suffocating confines of King James's court, Lady Jocelyn, a woman of spirited independence, finds herself ensnared in a political machination designed to force her into an abhorrent union with the loathsome Lord Carnal. Defying this grim fate, she orchestrates a daring flight across the vast Atlantic, seeking refuge and anonymity within the nascent American colonies. There, amidst the untamed wilderness and burgeoning settlements, her path intertwines with that of the intrepid Captain Ralph Percy, a man whose integrity and strength resonate deeply with her own, culminating in a swift, heartfelt marriage. However, the shadow of Lord Carnal, a figure of relentless malevolence and vengeful possessiveness, stretches across the ocean, leading to a perilous pursuit that culminates in a dramatic shipwreck upon an isolated, desolate isle, stranding the unlikely trio together. The sudden appearance of a formidable pirate crew introduces a new layer of existential threat. In a desperate gambit for survival, Captain Percy, with audacious cunning, masquerades as a notorious buccaneer chieftain, temporarily securing their precarious safety. Yet, this fragile deception is shattered by Lord Carnal’s insidious revelation of Percy’s true identity, plunging Lady Jocelyn and her husband into an even greater maelstrom of danger, where their very lives hang precariously in the balance.

Synopsis

Lady Jocelyn, a favorite in the court of England's King James, escapes a forced marriage to the hated Lord Carnal by fleeing to American colonies. There she meets and marries Captain Ralph Percy. Pursued by Lord Carnal, Lady Jocelyn and her new husband eventually find themselves shipwrecked on a desert island with Lord Carnal. A band of pirates finds them there, and Captain Percy convinces them that he is himself a notorious pirate chief. But Lord Carnal casts them all into danger by revealing Percy's true identity.