Princess Sophia of Kavros travels with armed guards in the dead of night as she plans to meet British representatives who promise to restore her to power. Assassins attack her carriage brutally killing her guards. Sophia escapes into the night making her way to a secure location until help can arrive. Taking refuge in a barn, Sophia encounters the startled farmer. She weaves a believable tale and takes his offer of employment as his maid. When her bodyguards arrive, Sophia steals away with them as the handsome farmer sleeps.

War-weary Major Gabriel Knight recuperates from wounds suffered in his last battle at a farm in the English countryside. Gabriel believes he's been given a second chance in life after his brush with death. When he thought he was dying, he felt he had not accomplished his purpose in life and he fought to return to the living. Now he grasps the pleasures found in everyday living. Finding a comely woman in his barn, Gabriel rethinks his recent celibate state. Before he can succeed in seducing her, Sophia leaves without warning in the middle of the night.

When Gabriel receives a message from his diplomatic cousin, he arrives to learn Sophia's true identity. Gabriel accepts orders to become head of security and protect her from the unknown assassins. Doubts consume Sophia about her abilities to carry out her duties and rebuild her country while she also struggles with her growing love for Gabriel. At last, Gabriel has found his purpose in life only to possibly lose it if he cannot stop the assassins.

Ms. Foley delves into a darker historical romance as the characters struggle to evolve and find their identities amidst the intrigue and danger that surrounds them. They contend with an imam who preaches and inspires religious zealots. Ms. Foley uses her considerable skill and writes an exciting tale taking readers from England to a group of small islands in the Mediterranean.