After a lie destroys the reputation of Sabine Godard, a young woman raised by her Oxford Don uncle, she and her elderly uncle travel to Turkey to escape the gossip. In Constantinople, she meets Edward, Marquess of Foye, who knows all about the scandal in her past. Foye, an outsized man who refers to himself as a beast, fascinates her and then earns her admiration. He doesn't care that she's better educated than many men, and he, too, was hurt by the lie that forced her to leave London. Foye knows Sabine is innocent of the disgrace that forced her to leave England and quickly finds himself captivated by her. It doesn't matter that she's beautiful and he's far from handsome. Sabine is the woman who restores his heart. He can scarcely believe she returns his feelings. If he must wait for her, he will. When Sabine and her uncle fall into the hands of Turkish Pasha, Foye will do anything to make sure Sabine and her uncle are safe.