The reality was--her Baron was no prince.

Cassy's grandfather indulged in two expensive pastimes--playing "Lord of the Manor" and betting on the ponies. Both pleasures overreached his means to support them, and now the crunch had come--eviction from his Somerset estate.

And although Cassy hadn't the heart to allow this, she certainly hadn't the funds to prevent it. Only one person had the power and the wealth to do that--her "no love lost" neighbor and landlord, Sir James Clayton.

However, the maxim "There's no harm in asking" backfired. Sir James would help, but what he wanted in return was her!