Life hasn't been too kind to talented artist, Lizbeth Davenport for the last few years.

Her entire family was wiped out by influenza, leaving her alone in the world. Then she was unfairly fired from the job that was her sole support which led to her being kidnapped and sold to a brothel. Now that she's free she's ready to move on with her life, but the anger still festers that no one paid the price for kidnapping her.

Even though his family has been pushing him toward marriage, Marcus Mallory has no desire for the confinement of the wedded state. He enjoys the company of the ladies and likes his life the way it is. Since he is attempting to have a bill passed on sex slavery in the House of Commons he is requested to help rescue Lizbeth from the brothel. Aside from the attraction he feels toward her, he also bears a sense of responsibility for her welfare.

When he discovers Lizbeth's plan to bring down the people who are running the sex slavery ring, he insists on working with her, but will his growing attraction to Lizbeth ever be returned by this woman who cannot stand a man's touch?

A doctor ahead of her time.

Dr. Rayne Stevens has spent her entire life working toward following in her father's footsteps and standing by his side in his medical clinic. Now that he has retired, she is the sole practitioner and is proud of what she's accomplished, especially with the disdain she's had to deal with due to being a woman in her chosen profession.

After a tragedy puts Lord Sterling into an emotional spin that results in years of dissipation, he believes he has reached his lowest point when he turns up unconscious on Dr. Steven's doorsteps after being dumped there by his friends.

Suffering from injuries that keeps him in the clinic he begins to see the possibility of another life for himself. Now if he could only convince the beautiful, kind and caring doctor that he has turned the corner and is truly a different man.

Readers will remember Lord Sterling from The Courtesan's Daughter and the Gentleman, and Dr. Stevens from The Artist and the Rake.

He is trying to remember this is a fake engagement...

Natalie Shaw has been healing from a difficult marriage while living with her sister, Dr. Rayne Sterling, and her husband, Lord Edwin Sterling.

Lord Alex St. John has spent his adult life being pushed by his mother find a wife. He had been betrothed and due to actions on the young lady's part, he broke off the engagement. Now he must attend his cousin's five day wedding celebration and expects to be harassed by all his female family members, with numerous women dragged before him for consideration.

Over drinks at their club, Lord Sterling suggests to Alex that he take Natalie as a 'pretend' fiancée to ward off all the trouble he is about to face. Natalie reluctantly agrees.

Their plan appears to be working until Alex's former fiancée arrives for the wedding, determined to win Alex back. Not only does he have no intention of doing so, he's beginning to believe his 'fake' fiancée might be his perfect 'real' fiancée.

However, there is desperate maneuvering on his ex-fiancée's part, because not winning Alex back is not an option.