Nicholas Feldmore is one of the wealthiest merchants in London who has spent years working hard just to be allowed to stand on the edge of polite society and each encounter leaves him wanting to be accepted into their fold. Despite his dreams of becoming accepted by those in the upper class, he knows that he should be grateful for the small bits of reception because if they knew of his past, he would certainly be cast outside of their circle forever.
But when one man begins digging around and threatening the secrets of his life, Nick is determined to thwart his plans. And in the process, he stumbles across that very man's own niece, Lady Katherine.
Lady Katherine Turnbull, daughter of an earl, and niece and ward of the man who holds the title now, is enthralled by this dark and mysterious merchant and can't seem to stop thinking about him. Even as Nick tries to distract her from her plans, she refuses to give up.
When their names are linked together in the same mystery, Nick fears for the safety of the woman who is worming her way into his heart. But will his past catch up to him before he can stop it?