Wealthy landowner Merrick MacLachlan is the polar opposite of his ever-so-charming brother, Sir Alisdair. Merrick is dark and brooding, both in looks and in temperament. With his penetrating eyes, and badly scarred face, Merrick has always made the ton deeply uncomfortable. Professionally, Merrick has attained a level of wealth and power that no one could have imagined when he was a brilliant but starving young architect. Privately, he has no life - which is just how he likes it. But his tightly-controlled existence is about to spin out of control. Because once upon a time, Merrick did have a life. And then he made a terrible mistake. Her name was Madeleine. And if ever he is tempted to forget her, he only has to look at the scars she left behind. -- back cover.