Lord Rastmoor has grieved—and cursed—his deceased fiancée for nearly three years now. He cursed himself, too.

What a fool he'd been! He fell in love with Julia St. Clement when he thought she was a gentle-born lady. He pledged to marry her even when he learned that was a lie. Then she eloped with his cousin and died giving birth to a child; a child that could very well have been Rastmoor's. The worst of it? He still loves her.

But Julia St. Clement isn't dead. It felt as if she would die when she left him, but Julia knew she had no choice. Her life and her lies made her unworthy of becoming Rastmoor's wife--and put them all in danger. To save the ones she loved, Julia allowed another woman to claim her identity and marry Rastmoor's cruel cousin. Julia lives with that guilt every day.

And now Julia has uncovered a plot to murder Rastmoor! True, he hates her , but that's not reason enough to let him die, is it? Disguised as a man, Julia comes out of hiding and goes to warn her former lover. All she can hope is that this time her lies and deceit will save the man, not ruin him.

But Rastmoor isn't so easily fooled this time around. He sees right through her disguise as well as any attempt she makes to hide the passion she still feels for him. He takes advantage of it, too.

Surrounded by cut-throats, arsonists, and would-be- assassins, can Julia convince Rastmoor to trust her? Or is any hope for a future for them nothing more than a lie they would both desperately love to believe?