Poor, plain spinster Mary Wilkins has no business falling in love with Viscount Parkhurst. They may have been best friends in childhood, but he's the wealthy, powerful lord of the manor now, and everyone knows he's bound to marry a beautiful local heiress. Mary tries to resign herself to a life of hopeless yearning, but when she and the viscount find themselves entangled in a stand of wild blackberry vines, unexpected passions flare. The viscount can't seem to keep his hands off her. But is he planning to make her his wife-or only his secret mistress?