Francesca Dashing would like to forget that Ethan Caxton, the Marquess of Winterbourne, exists. He humiliated her in front of all of London Society-and he doesn't even remember it! But when Ethan shows up in her sleepy Hampshire town, he's hard to overlook, and his presence stirs up long-buried feelings.

Winterbourne has traveled to Hampshire on orders from the Foreign Office-he's investigating an arms smuggling ring and is determined to find its leader. Miss Dashing stumbles into his way-literally-and derails both Ethan's assignment and his ordered country life. Ethan knows that he needs to ignore the distraction, but when Francesca is the victim of a vicious attack, he's compelled to put aside his mission to protect her. Guarding the viscount's daughter is work, nothing more, and Ethan has no plans to let down his guard . . . until Francesca's chocolate-brown eyes and endless compassion melt the ice in his heart and lay siege to his defenses.