A Beauty with a limp, a Beast with a scarred face, an unwanted proposal, a matchmaking aunt, a carriage journey in a snowstorm, a duel for a maiden's honour, and the perfect happiness of a love returned! At twenty-three, Georgiana Hall has received no offers of marriage, not is she likely to, for despite being a great beauty, she harbours and inconvenient secret which deters suitors. Captain Asher Brandt, a man haunted by the past that left his face hideously scarred and beast-like, is a man on a mission. To retain guardianship over his young niece, the last living memory of his brother, he must take a wife. Georgiana is determined she won't be that woman! It seems, however, that both Captain Brandt, and Fate itself, have other ideas! A desperate carriage journey in a snow storm finds Georgiana an unwelcome houseguest at the remote and austere Thornleigh. Her heroes all fallen from their pedestals, will Captain Brandt, too, disappoint Georgie's ideals? Or will he turn out to be her true hero, after all?