The Barding earldom may be doomed. A shocking suggestion may provide another potential heir. Miles Halliwell, Barding's man of business, owes everything to the earl. Does loyalty to his employer require him to deal with a known criminal and incite forgery? Unfortunately for Miles's peace of mind, it may. To protect her family's reputation, Julia St. John, daughter of a baron, has given up her comfortable life to live in obscurity with an illegitimate child. She has no better future in sight, until Barding's man of business offers a possible solution and a new life.