Miss Judith Ware's background was reasonably good, being the granddaughter of a baronet, but had fallen on hard times since the death of her father, a vicar, three years before the story opens. Her circumstances improved, however, once her brother completed his studies at Cambridge, set up house for them, and embarked on a career as an up-and-coming barrister. Judith was now able to leave the employ of a family where, among other duties, she had been a reader to an elderly blind woman, and join her brother.

Simon, the Duke of Sutton, lost his vision during the fighting at Waterloo. He had never considered himself proud, though fortune had seemed to smile on him. He was powerful, wealthy, handsome, intelligent, kind, well-liked, and had come through the wars unscathed until the very end. The loss of his vision was a bitter pill, and he had sunk into an uncharacteristic depression, which had his friends deeply concerned but powerless to help. Until, that is, Simon grew so isolated and desperate that he agreed to hire a man to come read to him twice a week.

Miss Ware had taken to studying the advertisements in hopes of finding a way to supplement her brother's small income. When she saw the ad for a reader to read for a blind nobleman she seized the opportunity immediately. With a little help from a mutual friend behind the scenes, Lord Simon hired Judith on trial.

Though we never get the impression that Lord Simon is weak, to the contrary, Judith is in charge from beginning to end. She is forthright, intelligent, caring, loyal, and wise. She falls in love with Lord Simon long before he is aware of the same feelings for her. --But then his energies are exhausted with adjusting to life without sight.

This novel tells the story of how Judith's wise and loving handling of Sutton gives him the impetus to rebuild his life, and of a slow-building attachment between two deserving, ideally-suited protagonists . ( )