For beautiful and sophisticated Lady Louisa North, marriage is the furth- est thing from her mind- between serving as lady-in-waiting to Princess Charlotte and the demands of her ladies' reform group, Louisa is pleased with the independence of an unmarried life, despite her royal father's protests. But her world is soon disrupted by the return of Simon Tremaine, the dashing duke she once loved...and had exiled from England. Five years apart have done nothing but stoke the fire that burns between them, and once reunited, Louisa and Simon resume their passionate relationship and soon make plans to wed. Only she is unaware that her politically ambitious husband-to-be has made a sercret bargain with the king: Louisa'shand in marriage in exchange for a place in the royal court. When Simon's deal is exposed, Louisa can't believe she fell prey to his lies. And whileSimon's movtives were politically based, he could not protect his heart from its true desire. Can Louisa forgive him and believe that his love is real?