Flora MacLeod is a gem among women-a fiery ruby who dreams of true love. However, the one man she desires is the one man forbidden to her, leaving her no choice but to hatch a plot to force their marriage. But it turns out that her beloved has more than one secret and leaves her behind, a ruined woman. She flees Scotland, taking her tarnished reputation with her, where she finds more than sanctuary-she finds a man who promises to love her, just as she is. But when her tainted past comes to light and a shadowed figure comes to call, will Flora be forced to abandon her one chance at happiness for a life of misery?