Lidian Acland believes herself in love with the roguish Chance Spencer who left to go on a tour of the continent a year ago. He led her to believe that he loved her too and would be coming back to claim her, but she hasn't really heard from him since. Even still, Lidian stubbornly clings to the hope that he will return for her even though her mother tries her best to dissuade her. After his family reclaims titles and land that had been taken from them decades ago, Lord Eric de Gray is suddenly one of the most sought after bachelors of the ton. He is tired of all the fortune-hunting débutantes following him around and wants a woman who doesn't care about money and prestige. When Lidian treats his sister kindly, Eric finds himself attracted to her, but she seems to want nothing to do with him, claiming that her heart belongs to another. Eric views her as a challenge and pursues her relentlessly, but can he ever hope to earn her love especially after Chance finally returns?