Aiden Murray-Navy lieutenant, secret Jacobite, and second-born son to the Duke of Atholl-never expected to inherit his family's title. But when his brother dies suddenly, Aiden is forced to give up his career aspirations and return home. When he arrives, he lays his eyes on a bonny, blue-eyed lass at a masquerade ball and decides he must have her.

The illegitimate daughter of the Earl Marischal, Lady Maggie Keith has dedicated her life to helping battered women in the sleepy burgh of Stonehaven. But when her father is accused of treason, Maggie is forced to travel to London. But she is ill equipped to face vindictive courtiers and manipulative nobles, and humiliation threatens to crush her determination.

Suddenly finding himself thrust into the responsibilities of a marquess, Aiden's desire to help the lass is thwarted by rifts between Jacobites and government loyalists. When Maggie is wrongly accused of a plot to assassinate the queen, can the ardent warrior of Scotland cast aside his family loyalties and rescue the woman who has stolen his heart?