Once upon a time, there were three brothers. Three sons, three rightful heirs to a powerful duke. But when the duke died suddenly, their uncle laid claim of his own, locking away the young brothers. Their crime: existence. And so they escaped and separated to the corners of the Kingdom: to sea, to the streets, to a far away battle, until they were old enough to return and reclaim what was theirs.

After being left as a child in a workhouse by his brothers during the escape from their mad uncle, Lord Rafe Easton didn't have much reason to rely on, much less love, anyone else. Yet when he lays eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, an earl's illegitimate daughter, he becomes determined to have her, if only as his mistress...regardless of what she thinks of the matter.

When Evelyn's dying father asked her brother to watch over her, she never expected her brother's idea of "care" involved anything short of arranging a marriage for her. Shocked by his intention to make her Rafe's mistress and left with nothing, she's has no choice but to accept the lord's indecent proposal and hope that she can one day open his heart.

But as Evelyn's desires to know the true Rafe become increasingly frustrated, she resolves to leave him. It's only through the bonds of forgotten family–and brotherly love–that Rafe can hope to win Evelyn's trust and claim her love.