It was the wedding of the season. When a handsome, charming duke proposes, heiress Annalise Hadley believes all of her fairytale dreams are about to come true. But on their wedding night, the once-perfect duke smothers her with a pillow and throws her over the side of their honeymoon barge. Apparently, the duke had no intention of marrying an unappealing bastard like her. Annalise survives but her heart isn't so lucky. Fished out of the river by a reclusive earl, Annalise is nursed back to health by a man with his own demons.and a penchant for taking his shirt off in front of her. Alone with him in his remote lodge, she keeps her identity a secret, waiting for the day that she's strong enough to visit the duke and take her revenge. But a lot can happen in the days and nights alone with a beautiful man. Is Annalise ready to seize the passion between her and the handsome earl? Or will her distrust of men keep her from claiming the love that blooms between them?