A woman resigned misery decides to finally fight for her own desires in this romantic drama from "one of the most respected Regency writers" (Library Journal). Orphaned as a child, Miss Jane Milton lives to serve her Stover cousins, tending to their every need. And after one of her beloved cousins dies from wounds he suffered at Waterloo, Jane feels utterly forlorn. Her one solace is caring for Lord Canfield's orphaned son, a sad boy dogged by rumors that he is actually a bastard. Jane is almost certain those rumors were started by her own second, the imperious Lady Carruthers, who seems determined to disinherit Jane's young ward. If only Miss Milton could stand up to the horrid woman and her insults! She finally finds courage in the company of her neighbor—the lowborn but hard-laboring Mr. Butterfield, whose stoic demeanor rubs off on her. But does Jane have the strength to realize her true feelings for Butterfield, stand up to her elitist family, and finally find happiness for herself?