Eight years ago, the Marquis of Steyne had been forced to marry to pay off his mother's gambling debts. Once the marriage had been consummated, his new bride disappeared. Needing an heir, Steyne tracks down his wayward wife who is living a quiet life in a small village under an assumed name.
Lady Alexandra ran on her wedding night after witnessing a shocking scene in her home. She has been living quite happily under a new identity and is taken-aback when she is confronted by her husband asking her to provide him with the needed heir.
Acting as if she has no memory of her life before coming to Little Thurston, Lizzie (Alexandra's new name) acts like she has no idea what Steyne is talking about. When she realizes that he is not going to take her back to her father, she admits that the memory loss was a ruse.
Demanding the Lizzie takes her place as his wife, the couple soon find themselves fighting their mutual attraction to each other. Can what started out as an unwanted marriage turn into a once in a lifetime love?
