Barely recovered a harrowing ordeal at the hands of a man she'd long believed dead, Cherry finds herself entwined in another mystery: professors are disappearing and she's tasked with finding out why. Though Cherry is rightfully hesistant to get involved with more danger, she can't find it in her to refuse a cry for help.
But even that mystery takes a back seat to the drama unfolding in Cherry's personal life. The Earl of Compton is back and has made his intentions known. He offers everything a proper unmarried woman could want: stability, comfort, protection. If only Cherry could shake off her memories of the adventurous and exciting Micajah Hawke -- and convince the earl's mother to stop hating her quite so much.
With major decisions facing her on all sides, Cherry has no choice but to fight for her independence-- and perhaps, her very life.
