Isabelle "Belle" Winslow long ago abandoned any thought of marriage. Although her brother's generosity allows her to live at his home in England, Belle must contend with his shrewish wife's constant harassment. During one of her brother's social gatherings, Belle meets the mysterious Count Alexi of Tantolovitch. His intimate conversation sparks a long-hidden desire in Belle, and the Count begins courting her. When he invites her to his estate in Bucharest, Belle eagerly accepts. Alexi seduces Belle with his charm and whispered words of love. But dark secrets and whispered warnings throw Belle into confusion. Why does Alexi forbid her from speaking to anyone outside his estate? What is the terrifying scream echoing across the countryside at night? Before long, Belle begins to doubt her sanity as danger haunts her every step. In an exotic land plagued with peril, will this new life be all that she desires, or will the man of her dreams become the man of her nightmares?