It's been months since Lady Catherine Chartwell's philandering husband met his untimely end at the hands of an angry mistress. But as miserable as he made Catherine in life, his death proves to be an even harder blow. For not a farthing of his fortune or estate have passed on to her, and as a ruined widow, she is destitute, penniless, and utterly without hope. Then, late one night as Catherine is considering the worst, a man steps into her carriage. His intentions are quite indecent at first, but the more he learns about her, the more an unfamiliar - and undesirable - emotion creeps over him. Could it be compassion? Never! For this is Alexander Baxendale third earl of Hawksford. He is known throughout the ton as the Lord of Pleasure, dedicated to passion, ruthless in his pursuit of sensual gratification. Yet never in all his exploits has he met a woman who could intrigue him has Catherine does. Can this mysterious beauty make him hang up his title and see to her pleasure alone?