To escape a life of poverty as a tenant farmer's daughter, Ariel Summers agrees to become the Earl of Greville's mistress in exchange for the schooling and refinements of a lady. But she never could have foreseen the Earl's sudden death, nor her own unexpected attraction to his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross. Ariel's innocent allure provokes Justin's ruthless nature and he vows to have her in his bed. Though seduction was his plan, Justin had not suspected that Ariel's innocent passion would awaken emotions he had long believed to be dead.