Over six feet tall and square-shouldered, Norwin, the Earl of Kensall is beyond dispute extremely handsome and known to have an eye for the ladies.

But when the beautiful young Sadira Bourne is told she is to marry him, she is appalled. Not only because she does not love him or even like him, but also because he has little regard for her and is actually in love with her stepmother, the Marchioness of Langbourne.

The Earl only means to marry Sadira to save her stepmother's reputation and indeed his after her husband discovered her affair and is intent on divorce, which would take a long time and cause a major Society scandal, which everyone involved in will suffer from.

Wickedly the Marchioness gives Sadira little choice, threatening the lives of her beloved horse and dog and assuring her that she will besmirch Sadira's name forever in the Social world.

Refusing to marry a man she will never love, Sadira flees to Morocco to become a student of the famed Medical Missionary, Father Christopher.

But little does she know how much her intelligence, sylph-like figure, striking blue eyes and ineffable beauty have entranced her forced fiancé.

Or that he is setting out in his fine yacht to come to her rescue.

And little does either the Earl or Saira know in what terrifying circumstances they will be together once more!