Jade Swift has always wanted a man to fall madly in love with him and make him his own. He wants to be mastered. When he meets Marcus Wynterbourne, a dominant man with a passion for the whip, it is love at first sight. Marcus is an MP, gay, and trying to live as freely as he can in 1885 when his sexuality's not tolerated and his association with the beautiful Jade leads to rampant speculation. Hurt by a past betrayal, and unable to accept Jade's loyalty because of his flirtatious nature, he casts Jade out of his house. But Jade loves his Master and wants only to please him. Determined, he will do what he must to win his Master's trust and restore his reputation amongst others who would ruin him.