Lady Dalton, known in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as Mrs. Bennett, has learned that she is not as useless as her husband declared. She fled his abuses, changed her name, and claimed to be a widow when she established her school for young ladies. It is a deception that has allowed her to survive but that means she must protect her reputation at all costs. After two years she has begun to feel safe from discovery, but she still fears what would happen if her secret is exposed. Alec Graham is intrigued by his cautious neighbor. Gossip says she is the granddaughter of an earl and the widow of an officer who died fighting Napoleon. Yet why did she come to Halifax where she has no family or friends other than the housekeeper who came with her? She has resisted his attempts to charm her, but perhaps now that his niece is one of her students he will be able to learn why she is so wary of his interest. Shadows cloud her eyes though she is young, beautiful, and gracious. What will it take to banish the shadows and lighten her smile?