She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in the rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground. Miss Bridget Littleton's passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by restoring the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle. Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey's once-thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget's potential trove of artifacts. He will not--cannot--fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion. Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined.