Society beauty Lady Leila Staines has always been the black sheep of her family: dark where her sisters are fair, and lacking their magical gifts. Now widowed, she's determined to do what she can to nurture whatever talent she might possess by cultivating a new breed of roses to enhance her intoxicating perfumes. But she's no gardener and needs help...

Wary, plain-spoken aristocrat Dunstan Ives long ago fled a decadent society that held him responsible for the mysterious death of his wife. Instead, he wrapped himself in science and the society of plants. He has no interest in helping a bewitching viscountess grow useless flowers—until he realizes that they're both victims of vicious minds, and he cannot see another woman harmed in his name.