Part 1
After her parents pass away, Jane’s distant relative, Lord Barnaby Sulby, takes her under his wing. But as soon as she arrives at his mansion, his wife, Lady Sulby, puts her to work as if she were a servant. Years later, there’s a party at the Sulby mansion and Jane catches the eye of the Duke of Stourbridge, the guest of honor. Before he realizes it, he’s offered to be her escort for the evening, placing himself in a difficult situation. Convinced Jane was seducing the duke, Lady Sulby accuses her of being just like her adulteress mother! Shocked, Jane flees, hiding herself amid the luggage in the duke’s carriage just as it leaves for London!

Part 2
Jane has run away from her cruel relatives, who took her in after her parents passed away, and made her way to the mansion of Hawk St. Claire, the Duke of Stourbridge, an aristocrat among aristocrats and the head of the notorious St. Claire family. Before she realizes it, she’s in love with him. But since Jane and the duke live in different worlds, she resolves to give up on him…until he draws her in for a sudden kiss, plunging her into turmoil. But as soon as he’s kissed her, Hawk apologizes for his transgression. As her guardian, he swears never to make the same mistake again…but when Count Whitney, a notorious libertine, approaches Jane, the envy on Hawk’s face is plain to see. What is Jane to do?