Theresa Jennings strayed from the path of propriety as a younger woman, though now she'll do anything to secure her child's eventual acceptance on the fringes of polite society. Theresa will even make peace with the titled brother who turned his back on her when she needed him most. Matthew Belmont is a widower who's been lonely too long. He sees Theresa as a woman paying far too high a price for mistakes long past, and as a lady given too little credit for turning her life around. Theresa is enthralled by Matthew's combination of honorable intentions and honest passion, but then trouble comes calling, and it's clear somebody wants to ruin any chance Theresa and Matthew have for a happily ever.