Declared illegitimate and denied his inheritance, Sir Liam Fawke has given six years of his life in service to his younger brother for the promise of being named heir to the Barony of Ashlingford. But when he is summoned to his brother's deathbed, he learns his treacherous kin has secretly wed and fathered a son. Vowing to claim what is rightfully his, Liam contests his nephew's succession. And he not only finds himself at dangerous odds with the boy's lovely, spirited mother, but attracted to one who is forbidden him - one whose son is the means by which he could twice lose all.

Three years ago, Lady Joslyn struck a desperate bargain to wed a nobleman and provide him with an heir. Now widowed, she must protect her young son from her husband's vengeful brother who will stop at nothing - including murder - to take what does not belong to him. But when she seeks an audience with the king to secure her son's inheritance, she discovers Sir Liam may have the stronger claim and that the truth of him could make lies of all she was led to believe. More unsettling, she is drawn to the man beneath the anger who can never forgive her for the part she played in his brother's deception - nor forget to whom she first belonged.