In the Victorian backdrop of Impressionism and the awakening of women’s rights, the naïve Calla is a free-spirited, wild artist. Orphaned as a child and reared by the aged, but liberal Earl of Felton, Calla has never known restraint, social or otherwise—until he dies.Fire meets ice. Ryder is a lieutenant Colonel ruled by discipline. From infancy, he has never known anything except restraint. Forced to leave his military career to take on the responsibility of a title, Ryder chooses a worthy lady to marry, but he is unprepared for the added responsibility of a ward, much less the lovely, unruly Calla. Determined to see her subdued and suitably married off, Ryder’s ordered life unravels in his pursuit to control her.