Valerian Fitzhugh had beenentrusted to accompany a wayward, headstrongheiress from her disreputable Italian pensioneto her family's English estate. He had expecteda young girl, not a beautiful, full-grown womanemployed as an opera singer. Ever mindful of hisobligation, Valerian escorted Miss Allegra Crispinoacross the ocean in a most gentlemanly fashion.Yet once they touched shore, the Englishman couldno longer deny himself a kiss from the maddeningminx. With that one embrace, their fates appearedto be sealed...until chaos was unleashed.