Coerced by her brother to spend an English Christmas at the country estate of the handsome but cold earl who all but jilted her a year earlier, Edme Beecham is determined to do no more than assist her brother in his business negotiations with the earl, and by all means, to protect her heart.

The Earl of Cottingwith has been balancing the needs of his new title and estate, his budding shipbuilding business, and an unexpected ward. A year earlier, nipping the bud in a possible family scandal, he'd rushed away from the Scottish lass who'd stolen his heart.

The cold, aloof girl who appears at his home for Christmas could not be his Scottish hoyden, could she?