IN A WICKEDLY WORLDLY AGE, SHE LOVED A MOST UNLIKELY LORD-- HER HUSBAND Bride to a stranger, the lovely Chelynne is swept into the intrigues of the sumptuous royal court. Quickly she comes to adore her dashing husband, the future Earl of Bryant... yet he spurns her love, so haunting are the shadows of his turbulent past. Chelynne vows to kindle his silent passion, risking her reputation, even her life. Now the Earl must tell her of the secret that has kept him from her bed--or risk the loss of his Chelynne forever!