Impoverished and lonely but contented enough to live with her much-loved Nanny in the now-empty family home, shy, unworldly Pandia sorely misses her recently deceased father – the handsome Hungarian scholar and writer.
When Selene, the capricious twin sister, who abandoned them years before, appears out of the blue Pandia is amazed, then appalled when Selene announces she’s told the Social world that Pandia is dead! She then demands that Pandia impersonates her at a family funeral to cover for Selene’s illicit tryst with her lover!
Pandia reluctantly agrees and at the Church meets the dashing Lord Silvester Stone, a famous explorer and writer who ignites the ‘fire in the blood’ she inherited from her father.
The passion between them is instant and electric. Pandia knows now that she will love Silvester forever – but how can she tell him that she is not who he thinks she is? Or that they can never ever meet again?

Pandia looked down at the book in her hand. Then as if he could not wait for her answer Lord Silvester asked: — "Have you thought about me?" — "It would be. . . difficult to think of anything. . . else." — "That is what I hoped," he said. "Your face is always before my eyes, and even when you are not there I feel you beside me." — He paused, then he said: "Look at me! I want to see your eyes! I want them to tell me what you think."

The way he spoke made Pandia quiver, and once again the flicker of fire was there. She knew as they moved within her that she wanted him to kiss her, and she was afraid when he looked into her eyes that he would know exactly what she desired.

Very slowly she obeyed him because it was impossible to do anything else. As she raised her eyes to his she was spellbound.

She could see the fire blazing within him, and as something wild and wonderful leapt within her, she was drawn to him as if by a magical power that was irresistible. . . ( )