A beautiful widow’s newfound love is hampered by the terms of her late husband’s will and a mystery that threatens destroy her son’s future.

Five years ago, men used to line up to kiss the butterfly-shaped birthmark on Olivia, Lady Farquhar’s left breast. It was one of the many indignities her husband forced upon her to pay his gambling debts and punish her for enticing him away from marrying an heiress.

Now Lord Farquhar is dead but his final brutality is the unkindest of all. He’s given custody of the couple’s two-year-old son to his cousin, Max, recently returned from seven years’ fighting in the Peninsular Campaign.

Broken but not yet defeated, Olivia embarks on a desperate charade which not only reunites her with her child but wins her the heart of noble and honourable Max Atherton.

But Max is a man she can never have. For even if he could love her despite her sinful past, her husband’s evil legacy continues to haunt her.

Unless Max can solve the real mystery behind Lady Olivia’s Butterfly, Olivia’s future is doomed.