Hope is a descendent of the High King of Ireland, a formidable ancestry that calls for a distinguished marriage. Her uncle Shamus has found her a man befitting her background but Hope has other ideas.

Being of small stature, five feet three in her stocking feet and thin as a willow reed with no breasts to speak of, barely a handful, and straight black hair that taunts her already pale complexion and possessed of a face that is pretty though not memorable, Hope assumes she stands a good chance in convincing everyone that she is a young lad.

She cuts her long dark hair to her shoulders, dresses in a lad's ragged clothing and paints a large white spot on the head of her most trusted and spoiled canine Lady Gwenth to disguise the animal. She then decides that she will be called Harold and Lady Gwenth will answer to Lady.

When finally ready for her adventure, she slips out of the castle along with Lady and heads for wherever her adventure will take her.

Colin is a rogue and a charmer but at the moment he does not feel like either. He has been sent on a mission by his friend who has recently gained a title, a wife and lands from the kings of Ireland. While he knows him as Eric most refer to him as the Irish Devil and not one to be taken lightly.

Eric would have normally gone on this mission himself but with his wife, Faith heavy with child, he did not wish to leave her, and he requested that Colin see to the small matter for him.

What was to be a small matter turned into a troublesome task. He was to find a female descendent of the High King of Ireland so that she could wed with a suitable husband. Being she is missing, Colin wonders if the young woman has no desire to marry and if so, he can not blame her. He, himself, thinks little of the union having found most arranged marriages just that an arrangement that neither party favors. He would much prefer to fall in love, though he fears himself incapable of ever truly loving.

He and the small band of men that accompanied him had started out in Connaught where this woman called Hope was last seen. The weather is beautiful, the pre-spring showers refreshing and the land a sight to behold.

They were presently heading back toward Limerick having heard of a young woman with a large dog traveling that way. It seems this Hope took along her faithful companion, a large dog who answers to the name Lady Gwenth. His men think of the missing woman as spoiled, stubborn and disobedient. They want to return home to their wives and families, and Colin does not blame them.

Colin and his men stop early for the evening and set up camp. The fire is going, the pheasant cooking and the men relaxing when suddenly chaos takes flight. A large animal with a spot of white on her head charges into camp, steals the cooked pheasant running around and past the men who stumble to catch her. The dog takes off with the men in pursuit, all that is except Colin. He waits in the shadows.

Hope creeps into camp to steal what food remains. She and Lady have had a difficult journey and have not eaten in almost a day. They are both famished and will doing anything for food, even steal it. She proceeds with caution and fear and takes what food she can while Lady leads the men on a merry chase. She is so absorbed in her task that she does not see the shadow approach from behind her.

Colin grabs the young thief by the back of his shirt. He squirms, kicks and fights but Colin is much too big and much too strong. His pitiful efforts to free himself are useless and he soon realizes it and quits his senseless struggle.

The men reappear with the pheasant and the large whining dog in tow, and the young boy yells at them for mistreating his dog.

Colin drops the lad on the ground, and the dog hurries to his side as if the scrawny lad will protect her. A secure and skinny arm goes around the large dog's neck, and Colin is touched by the ragged pair's strong attachment, though he is cautious. He questions the lad as to how he came by the large dog, and Harold is quick to give him a tale of how he found the animal near starving along the roadside and healed him back to sound health.

He gives the pair food and a spot to sleep for the night after learning that the lad, called Harold, is on his own. Colin watches as the pair settles for the night and the large dog, called Lady, snuggles in the protective embrace of the skinny lad.

Colin is no fool and realizes that the large dog could very well be the dog that belonged to Hope, but what was he doing with this dirty, skinny lad? And where was Hope?

The next morning Colin tells Harold that he can travel along with them until they arrive at the next village then he is on his own. The lad is delighted and keeps up eager steps with the men and their horses.

Hope/Harold realizes she can no longer remain on her own. She has been lucky to have survived the past two weeks. And poor Lady is simply not taking well to their excursion. She is simply frightened by everything, except when she is hungry, then she has courage. Hope knows she must find a way to remain with this band of men. They seem safe enough and as long as she keeps her identity a secret she need not worry.

Unfortunately, the village proves to be a problem for Harold. He gets into a brawl with a group of village boys, and if it isn't for Colin's intervention Harold's injuries would be a lot worse.

Colin feels for Harold, puny in size and a much too pretty face for a lad, and with no family to care for him, he is bound to get into trouble. Colin decides to ask him if he would like to come live at Shanekill keep, but there is a condition, he must shoulder his fair share of the work.

Harold quickly agrees though the work the men dump on him proves too much for the skinny lad, and Colin and the men find them helping him more often than not.

Colin and his men search a few more areas for the missing lass with no success, and they return to Shanekill keep to see if perhaps the young woman has already been found.

One night Harold listens as the men discuss their task around the campfire, and he joins in offering his own opinion. Colin is surprised by how astute he is for one so young.

Hope/Harold finds herself growing more accustomed to being with the men. She manages to look the other way or take herself off when they strip or wash in the nearby streams, though she discovers she favors watching Colin. He is so handsome and his body so appealing, and she confides her interest in him to Lady who listens in silence.

Before they reach home they are attacked by a pack of thieves, and Harold and Lady attempt to fight the best that they can. But Hope is no match for her burly opponent, and Colin once again comes to his rescue. Harold wraps firm arms around his neck and shakes terribly from his near experience with death.

Colin calms him down and insists that he will learn to defend himself once at the keep. He assures Harold that he is young and once grown he will have no trouble taking on opponents.

Hope realizes she is growing more and more fond of Colin with each passing day, and she worries over her feelings for him.

They arrive at Shanekill keep, and Harold hides behind Colin when Eric approaches, not to mention a giant called Borg. Both are much too big and fierce looking for the likes of her. But when Harold is introduced to Faith she instantly makes a friend. Lady makes a friend as well with Rook, Faith's big, ugly, yet friendly and lovable dog.

Harold spends much time helping Faith with her herb garden and in healing the ill until Colin steps in and insists he learn how to defend himself. To Colin and Eric's surprise Faith protests insisting she needs help especially in her condition.

Eric grows concerned, knowing his wife rarely admits she needs help and usually refuses any he offers her. He decides the lad will remain her helper until she decides otherwise.

Hope/Harold realizes that Faith knows her secret, and she confides her true identity to her. Faith admits that she knew he was a female, and she is surprised that Colin has not realized it. Though it is with a smile that she adds that sometimes what we search the hardest for is right in front of us. His charm with the ladies is legendary, but then he does not use charm on Harold, he worries about him and constantly sees that he is being properly fed and looked after. With a grin, Faith promises to keep her secret as long as it causes no harm.

Hope recognizes the fact that she deeply cares for Colin, and when she sees him with a woman, any woman, she makes certain to interfere as does Lady. Colin all but tosses Harold out of his room one night when she interrupts him with a servant girl. But he realizes that perhaps the lad's education with females is lacking, and he takes the time to discuss women and intimacy with him.

Harold finds himself blushing though fascinated by all Colin has to say. He even asks Colin specific questions, and he is pleased that the lad shows interest.

It is when word arrives that Hope's uncle Shamus will arrive the next day that she realizes she must make a decision. She can no longer keep her identity a secret, but she refuses to marry someone she does not love. Knowing her feelings for Colin are real and hoping her decision a wise one she takes action.

Afraid she cannot accomplish her intentions alone she secures Faith's help confiding her plan. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Eric is much too wise to his wife's ways and realizes something is in the works. He confronts her that evening in their bed chamber and she confides Hope's secret and her intentions. He is pleased at what he learns and decides to take action of his own with Faith's help of course.

Hope/Harold makes certain that Colin has extra to drink that night and helps him to his bed, not an unusual chore for Harold, but definitely one Hope has no business seeing to. She undresses him and herself and climbs into bed with him, praying he will forgive her for her deception. She loves him and wants to hear him say the words that he once told her he would only speak to the woman he loved. She wants him to hear him say, "Forever mine."

It is Eric and Faith who find them together the next morning and at first Colin thinks nothing of it assuming Harold drank as much as he did and fell into his bed in a drunken sleep.

It is when Eric lifts the end of the blanket for Colin's eyes alone that he reacts. He jumps out of bed naked only to jump back in since Faith is standing there. Chaos reins and who shows up but Hope's uncle Shamus.

Hope had not expected her uncle Shamus to appear in Colin's room. She had hoped when Colin found her wrapped around him he would do his duty as a gentleman. She did not want a forced marriage, but her uncle Shamus is calling for an immediate one and Eric agrees. <> Colin remains speechless and furious.

Hope attempts to talk with Colin but he remains steadfast in his silence. Hope rushes from the room upset and pours her heart out to Faith. Hope confides that she feels she may have made a terrible mistake. Faith suggests she give Colin time to get to know her. If Colin cared for the safety of the boy Harold, why wouldn't he come to love the woman Hope?

The marriage is set for two days hence, and Hope assumes Colin will keep his distance from her, but to her surprise he does not. He seeks her out, kisses her, touches her, and while she welcomes the intimacy she soon realizes his actions are just that, mere actions with little emotion. She wants him to love her as much as she loves him. She wants to hear those special words, forever mine.

She decides she has made a terrible mistake and intends to rectify the situation.

Hope once again dons male garments and hurries from Shanekill keep leaving not only with Lady Gwenth but Faith's large dog Rook. It seems that Lady Gwenth and Rook have become an inseparable pair. One will go no place without the other.

Colin is furious when he learns of her absence, and Faith is beside herself to learn that Rook is gone. She insists on joining Colin. Eric forbids it but in the end the three ride out with a small band of men to search for Hope.

An upset Rook finds them, and the group knows that something is wrong. It is evening, and they can do nothing until morning though it is hard to convince Rook of that, and Faith. She feels he is attempting to tell them something.

They soon learn what that something is. They are suddenly surrounded by a band of thieves. The leader is almost as tall as Eric and sinfully handsome and possessed of a confident manner that borders on arrogance. His men call him Rath with the utmost respect.

Rath tells them he wishes them no harm that all he wants from them is their coins and their jewels. To their surprise Hope/Harold enters the camp with a small velvet purse in hand and walks around each one to collect the loot.

Colin grabs her by the arm and tells Rath that the scrawny lad belongs to him as does the whining dog who is cuddled next to a snarling Rook.

Rath wants to know how the lad belongs to him.

To every one's surprise he tells Rath that the lad is actually a lass and is his wife, a temperamental one who does not yet know her place.

Rath wants to know how much his wife is worth to him.

Hope wonders the same and grows furious when Colin admits not much.

Rath laughs, and Colin and he begin to barter.

In the end Rath and he agree on a price, but Rath insists that the two women remain behind with him until the price is paid. Eric protests but Rath is insistent.

Eric and Rath discuss the matter, and it is decided that Colin and Eric will remain with their women while his men return for the coins. No other arrangement will be acceptable.

They are taken to a small village far off the beaten path. Eric and Faith are placed in one small cottage and Colin and Hope in another.

Colin and Hope argue and not only do their tempers rise but so does their passion. The come together and forge a bond that will never be broken.

With little to do but talk and make love Hope and Colin come to better understand each other. Rath finally allows them a bit of freedom, and they become familiar with the people of the small village and their plight. They also come to better understand exactly how they feel toward each other. And those feelings grow as they become more and more intimate.

When the village is attacked by one of the king's soldiers Colin protects Hope with his life, his words of love clear on his lips.

But in the melee Faith is taken away by Rath and a few of his men. Eric's temper rages beyond anything Colin has ever seen. It is only when he learns that Rook is missing also that he calms down. He knows the big dog will protect her with his life.

Without horses and little help, Eric has no choice but two wait for his men's return.

Colin and Hope attempt to comfort Eric but he seeks solitude, and they seek each other.

Borg arrives with a small but sufficient band of men, and Eric is ready and anxious to rescue his wife.

When they find the small camp Colin orders Hope to remain behind. She refuses and they argue until Colin tells her that he loves her much too much to risk losing her. She throws her arms around his neck and kisses him and refuses to leave his side.

They approach the camp with caution, Eric's men circling to make certain no one escapes and that Faith is rescued.

Eric hears his wife's scream and without hesitation charges into camp to see Rath leaning over her prone, writhing body. It is Faith herself who screams for her husband to drop his sword.

Rath is in the process of delivering Eric's impatient child.

Eric remains with his wife while Hope and Rath deliver a squalling lad.

Afterwards when all is quiet and Hope is tending to Faith, Colin, Eric and Rath talk. Rath explains that he took Faith with him when he and several of his band escaped to save her from losing her life and for her healing skills. One of the women was badly hurt in the attack, and Faith managed to save her life with her skills. He had all intentions of returning Faith safely to her husband.

Eric asks him if he and his men would like to join his soldiers.

Rath tells him he'll think about it.

Later that evening with Eric, Faith and their new son cuddled together, Rook and Lady Gwenth wrapped in sleep and Rath enjoying a much needed slumber, Colin and Hope slip away for a bit of privacy.

Colin and Hope make love, and he whispers the words Hope has waited to hear.