A love torn apart by fate is rejoined once more by destiny in this enthralling Regency romance penned by "a master storyteller" ( Affaire de Coeur).

Long ago, a young boy and girl were set to one day wed-he, the son of a schoolmaster; she, the daughter of a beautiful noblewoman. Before that happened, the girl's tyrannical monster of a father interceded, hiding his daughter away and forcing the boy into exile...

Now, the beautiful Aloise Crawford is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder by her own father. But she escapes the ship carrying her-only to find herself at the feet of a dark stranger with a face as angry as it is alluring.

For years, Slater McKendrick has lived in the shadows, awaiting his chance to seek vengeance against the man who stole his life, his love, and family's precious jewels, the Bengal Rubies. And when Aloise arrives on his lonely beach hideaway, it seems as if the opportunity has at last been delivered into his arms.

As captor and captive grow closer, they soon realize that they are bound by something more than either can resist-and that their only chance for true freedom is to face the dangers of the past.