Terese loved her stepfather dearly, and it was a dreadful shock when she learned that he had only a short time to live. Certainly she would have done anything to spare him any further tragedy - so when the imposing Manuel Delgado told her that he intended to sue her stepfather for fraud, she was prepared to do just about anything to prevent it.

Even to marry Manuel - which was, it appeared the price he was asking. And he also made it clear that the marriage would not be in name only. How could she go through with it? And why was Manuel so insistent, when it was obvious that more than one woman would be only too willing to become his wife?