From first glance Stephen thinks the reverend's daughter is the embodiment of sunshine, but he's a man who has walked on life's dark side, and he's leery. Stephen has been scarred by life, but he's tempted to see if Chastity Spencer's sunny disposition can light up the darkness of his soul. Tempted, but terrified, so he'll dip his toe in, so to speak. The earl decides to flirt with the beauty on the high seas to keep the doldrums away. He intends nothing beyond that, as he seeks to enjoy his freedom after years of being banished from family and England.

Chastity's the daughter of the good Reverend Spencer, who's finding it difficult to welcome her newly-orphaned, brash cousin into her small family. She yearns to return to her gardens in Devon and tend once more to her father's flock. Stephen Lord Kempner evokes new yearnings within her, but she scolds herself for entertaining such nonsense. The man seeks a shipboard romance, something she must reject, despite its temptation. She'd be a fool to expect anything from Stephen Lord Kempner once they reach England's shores.

But Fate disrupts those plans by stealing something precious from both the lord and lady.

This is the second book in the Reluctant Unions series.