With her widowed mother working long hours as governess to the royal children, Linnet St. Clare must look after her siblings and run the household. Now she must add to her worries the fate of Dominic, a poor orphan who has inspired the wrath of the king himself. Clearly Linnet has no time to consider her own desires' much less notice the attentions of a certain handsome, powerful magistrate. Sir Anthony Tait is at a loss for how to capture Linnet's interest. If only she would be still long enough for courting. Outright seduction seems the only answer. But will his kisses be enough to persuade her or might Anthony have something to learn from young Dominic about matters of the heart. And in saving the boy's future, might Anthony and Linnet at last create their own?