The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister -- now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas's vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe's unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue -- banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie -- Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard that he is and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes. . .