For Charlotte Aldridge, Christmas's arrival means anything but warmth and cheer. Only a few holidays ago, she fell in love with handsome Edward Barringer, the peer both their families were hoping she would marry. But Edward not only turned his back on his noble name, he also turned his back on Charlotte. Rejected and heartbroken, she made a new life for herself and vowed to put the past behind her. But now Edward has returned to the English countryside for the holidays. And Charlotte is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her heart forever out of harm's way.