A Heart of the Hermit Kingdom

He would teach her love's secrets... With the paper lanterns' flow upon her golden hair no woman ever looked lovelier than American artist Rebecca Lammers. She had come to the palace of an Oriental ruler to draw the lotus blossoms and exotic gardens -- not to lose her heart.

Yet there she met devastatingly handsome Douglas Swords, one of the East's more powerful merchants. Intrigue surrounded his shadowy business; rumors whispered that he was the lover of the queen herself. He was surely the wrong man for a well-bred New England girl to trust...or to love. But as bamboo curtains shut away the world, his kisses touched her silken lips with a taste of wine and desire.

Suddenly Rebecca knew she would risk her reputation -- and even her life -- to discover ecstasy in his arms. And in one fiery moment, she would promise him everything by saying yes, I will...yes.