The fisherman who pulls Sophia out of the harbor has a secret and she's dying to know it but hopefully not literally. Sophia decides to take a vacation in the South of France to get away from troubles back home from her ex and work. As she strolls along the quayside she trips over a discarded rope and head over heels falls into the dock. About to be turned into mincemeat by the propeller of a trawler she's saved by a fisherman. Partly as a thank you gesture, but mostly because he's the coolest and best-looking guy she has ever met, she takes him out to dinner where she becomes intrigued with this man who seems to be only masquerading as a poor fisherman. Who is he? And what is the secret he's hiding? She wants to know. As a romance develops, she's drawn into his world so different from her own.
This thrilling romantic adventure follows the plucky Mary on her journey into the depths of Dickensian England where she encounters a myriad of odd characters some of whom mean her harm while others strive to help her. Mary has a secret. Should it be discovered, she will be transported in chains to Australia as a criminal. When a childhood friend reappears in her life, friendship turns to love. But her joy is tinged with fear. He is now an officer in Queen Victoria's army. If he discovers Mary's secret, his duty will be to have her arrested and transported. Ill equipped in education and social position, she must draw on her inner strength to overcome the obstacles that life has stacked against her and trust that love can overcome duty.
