An infamous gentleman, a scandalous lady...a perfect match. Dangerously handsome, rakishly charming, William Taverner never planned to settle down - yet with his estate in ruins, the impoverished lord's only hope is to wed an heiress. But to his dismay, the one woman who stirs his ardor and excites his mind is a penniless musician's daughter...With her dubious lineage and humble dowry, Allegra Antinori knows Society deems her no great prize. Still, she hopes marriage to an honourable gentleman will secure future - particularly if the groom is Rob Lynton, the family acquaintance she's always adored. So why does the entirely unsuitable Lord Tavener keep teasing her senses...and bedeviling her heart. Knowing they should part, can an incurable rogue and a forsaken lady resist the passion of a lifetime?