Lara discovers that her tryst with a handsome stranger brought about an unwelcome outcome. When she realizes that he is not in a position to marry her, she is shattered. What was she to do? Her only hope to avoid a scandal was to marry and quick. It becomes known that a duke, quite a few years older, is seeking a wife to give him an heir. His life is almost over due to a hereditary disease. When the duke meets Lara he agrees to marry her. Coming from a good aristocratic family, she is suitable for his purpose, although a little young. Scared of the consequences if the duke learns that she is deceiving him, she exists each day in fear of being found out, but somehow manages to hide it for a while. When her seducer is invited to their winter ball she becomes alarmed. Will he recognize her? Will she be able to guard her secret?