One woman’s dying wish becomes another’s dangerous mission…

When Bertha Stainton takes a position as governess at Shrewsbury Castle, she carries more than references in her modest trunk. She bears the weight of her beloved sister’s final request: vengeance against the man who ruined her. But nothing at the castle is as it seems—not the absent earl, nor the children who quickly capture her heart, nor the whispers of scandal that still echo through the grand halls.

“Some secrets are buried deeper than others, Miss Stainton. I suggest you tread carefully.”

Lucas Davenport, the Earl of Shrewsbury, finds solace in his art far from the frivolities of London society. When a cryptic letter calls him home, he discovers his peaceful household transformed—and at its center, a quietly determined governess whose gentle manner conceals a fierce loyalty.

As misunderstandings give way to unexpected feelings, Bertha and Lucas find themselves entangled in a web of old sins and fresh deceptions. With innocent children caught in the crossfire and a manipulative woman pulling strings from the shadows, they must decide what matters most: a promise to the dead or a chance at redemption with each other.

Will love triumph over duty? Or must hearts break to keep old promises?

A tale of loyalty, forgiveness, and second chances in the glittering world of Regency England.