Thomas Armstrong vows only the loss of his faculties could ever convince him to take Amelia Bertram under his care during her father's absence from England. Sadly, that loss does occur¿ the moment Lady Amelia publicly states that rumors of his exalted sexual prowess are more fable than fact. Responding like any man with an ounce of pride would, he picks up the gauntlet she threw down on the ballroom floor. After the death of her mother, Amelia Bertram is further devastated by the withdrawal of her father's love. To survive the double heartbreak, she walls off her emotions. Now, her social faux pas finds her sharing a roof with the very man who took her place in her father's affections¿the man her father hopes one day to call son. In the seclusion of his country estate, Thomas glimpses in Amelia a vulnerability buried beneath a mountain of jealousy and pain. In turn, she discovers the ton's 'golden Greek god' is more than the sum of rumor and innuendo.

Soon a fire ignites between them not even a deluge from the Thames can extinguish. Can they set aside their plans-his for revenge, hers to escape-to forge a love powerful enough to surmount his pride and crumble the walls surrounding her heart?.