Howcouldyou,Mama?Papahasnotevenbeendeadayear!’WhenthebeautifulLuciaMountford’smotherremarrieslessthanayearafterherfather’sdeathontheTitanic,sheisshockedwhenthefamily’sfortunessuddenlygointorapiddeclineandhermotherbecomesill.DeeplyindebtherstepfatherborrowsaconsiderablesumofmoneyfromthehandsomebutroguishLordWinterton.Horrified,Luciadiscoversthatnotonlyhasshebeenpressedintoworkingforhimashissecretarytorepaythedebt,butthatshehasbeenpromisedtoLordWintertoninmarriage.Toaddfurthermiserytoherburden,hermother’sconditionworsensandherlifehangsinthebalance.Inthemeantime,Luciaisbeingsecretlywooedbythestaidbutgood-lookingEdwarddeRedcliffewhoisintentonmakingherhisown.AsLuciastruggleswithherselfoverhergrowingattractionforheremployer,eventstakeastrangeturnwhenthewilfulandbeautifulLadyShelleysetshersightsonbecomingLadyWinterton.HowLuciafindstrueloveandwhathappenswhenLordWintertonmysteriouslydisappearsisalltoldinthisintriguingnovelbyBARBARACARTLAND.