One year ago, Lottie Atwell killed a man to defend her honor. Now, a blackmailing killer claims to have proof of the incident and will reveal her secrets unless she agrees to his demands. Lottie must silence the killer by any means necessary, even if she must give up her love for Thomas, the gentle Scottish stablehand. To protect the woman he loves from afar, Thomas Hawthorne hides his position as a Lord and poses as a stablehand. He's been hiding from the world and avoiding his duties since returning from war a broken man, but when Lottie's life is threatened, he must make a choice. Continue hiding or rise to his birthright and save the only woman who inspires him to live again.