LivelyLeonoraCressyandherschoolfriend,Isobel,haveswornnevertofallinlove.Theypreferlearningandbookstomenandscornothergirlswhoseheadsarefullofstorybookromance.ButLeonoraissuddenlypluckedfromthesafetyofherallgirls’schoolandthrownintoanadventurethatforceshertoreconsiderherchildhoodvows.Returninghometomeetthenewstepfatherwhohastakenherbelovedfather’sroleasprotectorandprovider,Leonorahastwofatefulencounters–onewithanarrogantgentlemaninacarriage,andonewithasuavebutappealingforeigner,Se?ordeGuarda.Excitedandangeredinequalparts,LeonoraisshockedtodiscoverthathersweetMamahasmarriedamanthatshecannotadmire.Horrifiedwhenheannouncesthathehasarrangedhermarriagetoawealthybutunknownman,LordMerton,sheswapsthecomfortofhomeforapassageonacargoshipheadedforBrazil,andherfriendIsobel.Asthelongvoyagebegins,LeonoracongratulatesherselfonsuccessfullyevadingLordMertonandalovelessmarriage.Butuponmeetingmysterious,butseeminglyprotectiveMrChandos,andfacedwiththepassionateattentionsofSe?ordeGuardasheisconfused.Bothmenholdsecretsthatcouldruinherreputation,butonlyonestirsherheartandsoul.Aloneapartfromherfaithfulservant,Finny,andunsureofwheretoplacehertrust,Leonorarealisesthatshehasdonetheonethingthatshesworenevertodo–fallinlove.AsBrazilgrowsevernearershehasimportantdecisionstomakethatwillchangeherlife,andthoseclosetoher,forever.