Newly widowed heiress Elena de Burgh doesn't want another abusive husband. Yet her coveted freedom is to be short-lived-the king has pledged her to a man much worse than the last. Elena knows her duty is to her king and her future lord, but erotic fantasies of having Sir Stephen de Verre in her bed chip away at her resolve to remain chaste.Stephen has come to Elena's castle to accompany her to court, where she will be betrothed to a powerful border lord. Stephen has always had strong feelings for Elena, but to touch her will be a betrayal of the oath of fealty he has made to his king.Torn between loyalty, duty, honor and love, Elena and Stephen have denied their forbidden attraction for too long. When they finally unleash their passion, nothing can keep them apart. Not even the risk to their honor-and their lives.Reader Advisory: Contains attempted rape and minor violence against women.