It is bad enough that beautiful young Celesta and her brother Sir Giles are alone after their mother scandalously ran off with her lover. To make matters worse, Giles has gone “off the rails”, drinking heavily and gambling away what little money they have. To her horror, Celesta finds that he has lost the family home at the gaming tables – and that their estate, including the Garden Cottage that they have made their home are now owned by the Earl of Meltham.When she meets the new owner it is not in the best of circumstances. He comes upon her in the estate peach house, where she is taking a bite ofthe fruit. Sardonically accusing her of stealing, the handsome but cruel-looking nobleman forcefully takes her in his arms and kisses her. She has never before been kissed – and she hates the Earl for his arrogance. But when Sir Giles ends up in debtors’ prison the Earl saves the day in more ways than one, she sees him in a whole new light. Will this light of love finally bring Celesta out of the shadow of her mother’s sin?