In the wake of a horrible accident that killed the wretched man who was to be her husband, Lady Elizabeth Everdean has fled to Italy, where she vows to become a great artist-and to never let another man control her destiny. Sir Nicholas Hollingsworth is as renowned as a war hero as he is as a rake. When the man who saved his life in battle asks him to find his missing sister Elizabeth, he departs at once for Venice. Only he never expects the object of his search to become the object of his desire? Originally published in 2001 "An excitingly sensuous tale yet darkly haunting tale of love." RT Book Reviews.