True love does not exist. At the least, not as far as the Earl of Hetherton is concerned. Still entangled in the loose ends of a ruinous affair that shocked the ton, Julian has given up any idea of love or marriage. But a chance meeting with an old friend may change his mind. Miranda Parkman's reunion with the handsome earl is bittersweet, to say the least. Eight years ago, Julian crushed the bloom of her first love, leaving her waiting for a proposal that never came. Now, she's in London, prepared to sacrifice the yearnings of her heart for a proper union with a respectable peer--until Julian puts himself in her path once again. When their renewed attraction culminates in an unintended seduction, they're forced to the altar, facing an uncertain future. Yet someone is determined to tear them apart. Will twisted stories and undeclared truths leave Miranda and Julian forever longing, or will true love guide them into overcoming their bittersweet past?