Having been deceived by her father and her fiance, Jenefer Trevanion values honesty above everything. Shortly after breaking her engagement, she lost her father, her home, and her status in a devastating fire. Now she supports herself by book-keeping for various businesses in the Cornish village of Porthinnis and acting as agent for the Guernsey merchants who supply local smugglers. But her independence appals local well-to-do families. The arrival of Charles Polgray, her father's heir, causes a stir in the village as his plans to extend the harbour will provide much-needed work and increased trade. The attraction between them is instant and powerful. But can Charles resolve the secret in his past before it shatters all hope of a future together?