Called home to Regency London after his brother's death, Tertius Pembroke, Earl of Skylar, must marry quickly and produce an heir. Lady Gillian Edwards seems the ideal bride: young, beautiful and innocent.But Sky is no ideal husband, having returned from the Indies gaunt, ill and plagued by a darkness that he dare not reveal-even to his betrothed.Lady Gillian had promised Sky her hand in marriage but cannot give him her heart-not when she gave it to another man three years ago. Afraid of repudiation, Gillian buries her secret so deep inside herself, no one will ever know-or so she hopes.Through lies and deceit, their marriage slowly unravels. Then Sky becomes deathly ill, and his newfound faith offers two virtual strangers a second chance at becoming husband and wife.