Ross Bennett, Marquess of Rainforth, hadn’t come to St. Stephen’s Hollow because he wanted friends. He’d turned his back on Society—just as they’d turned their backs on him. But anonymity was short-lived. The mistress with whom he’d parted amicably five years earlier had borne him a child, a child he hadn’t known existed. And that child had been put into the orphanage his grandfather had endowed on the estate. Ross fought his desire to go to the child. What child would want a father who was a murderer? Especially one who’d killed his own father and destroyed the family name? Yet when an opportunity came to catch a ring of smugglers bringing opium into London, Ross seized it. How could he refuse? The request came from the highest halls of government – from the Queen herself. Success in his mission was his only chance to restore his self-respect…and his good name.
Josephine Foley must protect the orphaned children at all costs. But when a known rake comes looking for his child, she has to stall, even though holding him at bay is the hardest thing she's ever done. Still, she must! Because the closer she comes to losing her heart to Ross, the closer she comes to being hanged.