As daughter of a Scottish march warden, Laurie Halliot knew life could be treacherous in the Borders. But when the English accused her runaway stepsister of murder, Laurie pledged herself as hostage until the truth could be uncovered. To protect her honor, her father insisted she be handfasted to her jailor. And so Laurie became the reluctant bride of Sir Hugh Graham of Brackengill, English brother of the notorious Scots heroine, Janet the Bold. A man of divided loyalties and strong heart, Hugh tempted Laurie as no man had before. If she was ever to regain her freedom, she must stay out of his bed, but how could she deny her own dangerous passions.