October 1886 Captain Avery Murphy finds his live unfulfilling and lacking any sort of challenge. He feels as if the world is passing him by. Having purchased his niece's house after she returned to England, he finds that the house place only reminds him of what's missing in his life. Wife and children Having lived for years haunted by the deaths of his wife and child and having his fortieth birthday, Captain Murphy decides it's time to move on and find a wife never suspecting that said wife might already be under his roof. Newly widowed Priscilla Brightmore is desperate for employment and down to a very few precious coins, she seeks a housekeeper's position at Captain Murphy's house in Bridgeport. Without references, Priscilla convinces the present housekeeper to give her a two weeks trial, hoping that once her foot in in the door, so to speak, she can prove herself to the woman and keep the position. After saving his life, Avery takes notice for the first time of his new housekeeper and finds under the disguise of drab clothes and hairstyle a betwitching woman. A woman he finds very much he is attracted to. With a whirlwind courship and marriage life settles into all that Avery and Priscilla hoped it would be for them until Avery's past changes everything between them.

Summer 1886 Anthony Baldwin, newly installed 8th Duke of Wolverleigh(Tony to his friends) travels with his friends the Duke and Duchess of Warrick to the duchess's house in America. Evnious of their love for one another and their four children, Tony has decided to find a bride of his own upon his return to England. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to find one in America. He's instantly attracted to a beautiful part Native American woman he meets at the duchess's house. Cheyenne Sinclair returns to Bridgeport from Colorado upon the deaths of her two half-brothers to inherit Sinclair Shipping. Hoping to settle the estate as soon as possible and sell the shipping company she soon learns that a clause in her father's will states she can only inherit if she marries within a few weeks time. Cheyenne balks at the very idea of marrying anyone but since her mother's dowry is what built the company she doesn't want to see it go to her father's brother, a man who hated her mother because of her Indian blood. Attracted to the black haired beauty, Tony comes up with a plan. Marry him but it will not be a marriage in name only, he promises her. Attracted to Tony, Cheyenne agrees but only days before the marriage is to take place the first attempt is made on Cheyenne's life. After a second attempt they all think she'll be safer in England but the trouble only seems to follow them there. As the attraction between them grows into l0ve Tony is on a race against time to find out way and learn who wants his new wife dead.

After having lost the love of his life, Captain Myles Cameron has come to terms with never marrying unitl and enticing temptation, in more ways than one, is placed before him. Called to Markham House by the Duke of Markham, Myles learns he can secure the Earl of Twynforde title if he will marry the duke's granddaughter, Catherine Landsdowne, and search for the duke's missing youngest son. Those are the old man's conditions. Catherine wants to leave England to search in China for her missing uncle, the last male heir to the dukedom but her grandfather, the Duke of Markham, will not allow his unmarried granddaughter to leave without the protection of a husband. A husband he has selected for since she's never found anyone in her twenty-seven years of interest to marry. Catherine balks at the very idea of marrying this unknown man until she seeks this Captain Cameron out at an inn near the docks and watches him from afar. Myles expects a spoiled on the shelf old-maid and is greatly surprised to see the beautiful woman who'd caught his attentions the night before at a local inn, Myles decides this will not be a marriage in name only. After agreeing to a few of Catherine's conditions, the two are wed that very night and set sail on their voyage to China a few days later to search for her missing uncle. From the beginning of the voyage attraction is there between the two but someone doesn't want Catherine or Myles to reach China to learn what became of her missing uncle. And Catherine doesn't want Myles to learn any of the secrets she holds.

Outside London at the Kelton Manor Amada Herrington attends a boring house party, vowing to leave the next day she retreats to her bed chamber. She had promised her late father the Earl of Covington that she would marry but so far no men have appealed to her. She misses the days sailing with her father onboard his sailing ship The Free Spirit. Having what she thought was a sensual dream Amanda awakes in her dark bed chamber to pain to find a man in her bed then moments later her the door to her bed chamber is thrown open by the Earl of Kelton along with several other party goers. Devlyn Maddox, Duke of Warrick is shocked to learn the bed chamber he'd been directed to by his mistress is occupied by Lady Amanda Herrington, innocent victim of his love making. Now he must marry her by special license and then determine if she was party to this supposed accident or the innocent victim of whatever mischief his mistress was up to. After their marriage Devlyn travels with his new wife to Warrick Abbey then promptly leaves her to return to London without a word to Amanda when he would return. After spending two weeks alone Amanda returns to London to see her new husband arm and arm in the park with another woman. Upset Amanda informs her Aunt Geraldine she is leaving England for good not wanting to remain married to Warrick. Along with her father's first mate, Myles Cameron, Amanda purchases The Free Spirit and departs England for America. Twelve years later she returns along with a secret to learn Warrick had their marriage annulled and she is free to marry Myles Cameron.

Oliver Wainwright finds himself elevated to Marquess of Trevorton upon the unexpected tragic deaths of his father and oldest brother. As he tries to deal with his loss an unexpected accident brings into his life a beautiful unconscious unknown woman, a woman clad only in her petticoats and shift. Once awaken she cannot remember her name or her past which sends Oliver on the path to learn her identity and to keep her safe under his protection.