How could a rake and a rescuer make a perfect muddle of her perfect betrothal? — Held up by ruffians, then secretly kissed by the mysterious gentleman who came to her rescue, recently engaged Sophia Kingsland feared the gossip-starved ton would milk the incident for all they could. — But fortunately for Sophia, the unexpected return of her fiance'... more »s older cousin, Lord Manville, stole the limelight. Once a rake, the war hero was now rumored to be sadly disfigured. Still, Sophia found herself strangely attracted to the foreboding fellow--her engagement to an eminently suitable fellow notwithstanding! The dilemma proved most unnerving. For since her encounter in the woods, Sophia could ill afford a second scandal to upset her precariously balanced reputation...