Lady Calandra has an overprotective brother and no suitors as a result. At masquerade she meets a Cavalier who fascinates her. When he rescues her from an assault by another man, Callie loses her heart.

Her brother, Sinclair, Duke of Rochford, finds her with the man and threatens both of them to keep away from each other. Sinclair has always been a loving brother and Callie can't understand his autocratic behavior. She turns to a family friend, Francesca, for help and comfort.

Callie contines to meet the Earl of Bromwell on the sly with Francesca's help. What she doesn't know is that Brom is seeking revenge on the Duke for his behavior toward his sister, Daphne, Lady Swithington years before.

As Daphne uses Callie as a pawn in her game of revenge, Brom realizes that he may not know the entire story of what happened between Daphne and Sinclair all those years ago. The conflict between his desire for revenge and his wish to protect Callie will cause him to question all he ever believed.

This is an intricately plotted story with a conniving villainess at the center. We see the heroine being manipulated on all sides and yet being kept in the dark about events which lead up to the current time. The reader will sympathize with Callie even as past events are exposed. One can only hope that the story of Francesca will be next.