We first met Sebastian, Baron St. Clair, in the previous book in this series, The Captive. In that book, he was in the French army, and his duty was to torture information from captured English soldiers. However, there is more to Sebastian's story. As a young man, he and his English father and French mother were visiting her relatives in France. When war broke out with England, his father was at great risk, and had to secretly slip back home, leaving Sebastian and his mother. The French then forced Sebastian to either join their army, or face imprisonment, or worse. He did what he had to do in order to survive. Unfortunately, the French also discovered his gift for interrogation, and that became his new life.

At last, the war ends and Sebastian is allowed to return to England to resume his life. There's no peace to be found for him now, as he's called the "Traitor Baron," and is shunned by much of society. He is also challenged to duels by his former victims who are seeking revenge. In every duel, he delopes, and tells his challenger that his actions were due to war, and to let it go and get on with his life, as Sebastian is trying to do. No one seems to realize how greatly he suffered, and in fact, is still suffering for his past.

Sebastian's Aunt Freddy managed his estate while he was in France, and she is his staunch supporter. As we meet her, she is in the process of hiring a companion, Milly Danforth. Sebastian and Milly are thrown into each other's company a lot, and soon develop a friendship, then a romance. And what a romance it is! Grace Burrowes weaves her usual magic, and we see the other side of Sebastian -- the man he really is -- sensitive, caring, thoughtful and loving. His actions with Milly are swoonworthy. In turn, she is fierce to defend his previous actions as being acts of war, and actually races to his rescue on occasion as a cavalry would. She brings him light and love - they are perfect for each other.

But happy ever after is not to be so easy. There is someone who is determined to see Sebastian dead. Also, we find that Sebastian, himself, has been betrayed, and more than once. The resolution of this story had some big surprises. I recommend that you read The Captive before reading this story. As I finished that amazing book, I challenged Grace Burrowes to make me love Sebastian, THE TRAITOR, as I didn't think she could do it. She delivered, in spades! This is another touching, emotional, romantic book with a most satisfying conclusion. I give it my highest recommendation.