After her stagecoach collides with the Marquis of Stade’s speeding curricle on the road to Blackwater, slender, golden haired beauty Gretna is somewhat at the mercy of this cynical-lipped yet handsome nobleman. Knowing this, and concerned for Gretna’s reputation, her companion, the rotund Mrs. Merryweather passes her off as her niece when they arrive at his magnificent nearby estate. Sadly, the Marquis seems to take her lowly status as an excuse to proposition her in way he would never treat a Society lady. Little does he suspect that Gretna is the daughter of just such a lady, and one with a scandalous past and illustrious connections of her own – namely with The Prince Regent’s consort, Maria Fitzherbert (or Aunt Maria to Gretna!).Gretna hates the steely-eyed and supercilious Marquis with his sarcasm and curled lip – especially when he has the temerity to suggest that Mrs. Fitzherbert’s residence is an unsuitable place for a young girl to stay.But then his arrogance pales into insignificance compared with the vile, predatory Lord Wroxhall, who pursues Gretna mercilessly until finally love comes out of hiding for the Marquis and his golden-haired Gretna.