All of London is agog for the wedding of Oscar Ryall, the charming Lord Carrington, to this season's diamond of the marriage mart. Yet Oscar himself is less than happy with the circumstances that brought about his match to the coldest woman he's ever met. A woman he'd schemed to capture from the start, but who trapped him by scandal instead. Although bred to do his duty and wed as arranged, he's plagued by doubts about marrying the girl. What he wants is his former lover back in his life to turn his mind from the demon plaguing his dreams.

Yet Agatha Birkenstock refuses to resume their relationship and the nightmares increase every day. Agatha Birkenstock was devastated by Oscar's betrothal and his offer of carte blanche broke her heart. Granddaughter to a wealthy cit, Agatha could never be happy as Oscar's mistress and vows to protect her heart.

But when they're forced to work together to save her beloved orphanage from closure, she's hard pressed to keep a proper distance. Although few in society seem to notice, Agatha glimpses the suffering in his eyes and against all sense, risks her heart again. Yet even as she vows to uncover his secrets, Agatha's world is ripped apart and the scandal that follows damages more than just her tenuous place in society. It threatens to shred Oscar's family apart.