When Melanie Carter's older brother decides she's to marry Lott Jenkins, a wealthy man who has the reputation of being harsh and unbearable, she knows her life has just started on a downward spiral. However, she's determined to trust that God would not want her with such a man and try to make the best of the awful situation. At a masquerade ball in Edenton, she meets a rather mysterious man dressed as a knight, and she can't forget him. Lucas Hall can't forget Melanie either, but he might as well. Once she sees the hideously scarred side of his face, she'd be repulsed like everyone else. That's why he wears a mask whenever he goes out, which isn't often. He wouldn't have gone to the masquerade ball if his housekeeper hadn't tricked him into going. Now he's haunted by a scene he saw between Lott Jenkins and Melanie. No woman should ever be treated with such disregard, but what can he do? If he tried to help, they'd take one look at him, and he'd be no help at all.