Portia Derring, the heiress of a noble impoverished family, arrived at the estate of Earl Morton, only to refuse another contender for her hand. She values her own freedom most dearly - away from cold England... Why does the Count see her as a gold digger? And why does each of their passionate quarrels make them lose their minds more and more? She played the role of a bluestocking for so long... And now she is burning with desire and jealousy, because the count, who skillfully awakened these feelings in her, is trying with all his might to hide his own.