Horribly wounded after robbers murdered her dear father and left her for dead, the lovely young Atayla is alone and destitute in Morocco at the Tangiers Mission. So when her only friend, Father Ignatius, tells her of a French lady, the Comtesse de Soisson, who wishes to pay someone to escort her young daughter home to her estranged father, the Earl of Rothwell, she jumps at the opportunity. After a long and tiring journey, she arrives unannounced at Roth Castle with young Felicity and Atayla is dismayed by the violent unwelcoming reception she receives from the dashing but disdainful Earl, who assumes that she has some shady ulterior motive in coming to The Castle. Atayla is at the mercy of a man who hates her and soon it seems she is to be banished from The Castle and from the young girl she has come to care for. But then the Earl's passions are inflamed in a terrible misunderstanding and his hate is suddenly transformed to an all-consuming love.
Never had Atayla seen a man looking so angry, and before she could speak, before she could think or ask what he was doing, the Earl "I am well aware of why you came here, Miss Lindsay, and why my wife sent you to seduce me into giving her the divorce she needs." "What are you . . . saying? How ... dare you...." "You can go back to my wife and tell her that you have been unable to carry out your instructions." "Please," she pleaded, "please . . . let me . . .explain." "I have no intention of listening to your lies!" He almost spat the words at her. Then he was aware that she was trembling, that her eyes were looking up at him, her hair shimmering in the light of the candles. His arms went round her, he pulled her against him and his lips came down on hers. He kissed her roughly, and she was completely helpless in his arms. . . .#92 ( )