Evelynne Marriott, a gentlewoman born, had donned the disguise of a rough-and-tumble lad. With her family fallen on hard times, she toiled away at a man's job to keep a roof over all their heads. Not that she expected the wealthy Earl of Monteith to understand. She'd called at his town house to thank him for saving her young brother's life--and he responded by treating her with suspicion and talking of conspiracies.

Then the earl was abducted! It was only sheer impulse that drove Evelynne to try to rescue him. Soon she was embarking on a dangerous adventure that would ignite a spark and a most dismaying desire ... to kiss the grateful nobleman. But the earl was above her station; a match would scandalize the ton. So when he offered her the reward of a gift of her choosing, Evelynne dared not answer true. For what she really wanted was nothing less than his heart....