In this "milestone of originality," a woman on the edge of spinsterhood is reunited with the man she could never forget—even after he betrayed her love (Romantic Times).

To all appearances, Miss Omega Chartley is a schoolteacher on holiday. In fact, she is a gentlewoman fallen on hard times. Left at the altar eight years ago, she must make her own way in the world after the loss of her family fortune. But Omega's modest tour of England is cut short when she comes to the aid of a runaway boy.

Little could Omega know that the runaway is also the nephew of the enigmatic Viscount of Byford, who turns out to be none other than her disgraced former fiancée, Matthew Bering. With dangerous men—both lawful and unlawful—in pursuit, Omega sees little choice but to take shelter with the man who broke her heart. There Omega will finally learn of the dark chapter in Matthew's past that made him abandon her all those years ago, and which now may hold the secret to their happiness together . . .