Life has not been kind to Lady Celina Bradford. Following the untimely death of her brother when she was quite young, Lady Celina Bradford found herself destitute when the financial support from her guardian never came. After numerous pleas to the Seventh Earl of Carlisle went unanswered, she had no choice but to do whatever was necessary to survive. With only a young stable hand by her side, Celina managed to make something of her horse farm and also became a midwife for the local villagers. Charles Carstairs has planned out every detail of his perfect life. Charles Carstairs, Earl of Carlisle, is enraged when he discovers that his man of business has stolen from the estate of his ward, Lady Celina, leaving her in poverty. Charles immediately leaves London-and the young lady he's about to propose to-and rushes to Lady Celina's aid. But upon his arrival, the tables turn and it's the earl who finds himself in need of rescue, while the woman doing the rescuing has every reason to detest him.