Petra wasn't exactly engaged to Jay Stoddart, but they were close enough friends for him to invite her to his family home and before doing so, to warn her about his stern older brother Alaric. Alaric, it seemed, was very much head of the family and master of his own house. He was arrogant, autocratic, and had little use for women except as playthings. All of which was confirmed when Petra met him and he lost no time in telling her firmly, all women are the same. They're after two things only, money and marriage, in that order. Could Petra prove him wrong? And anyway, did it really matter what he thought of women in general and her in particular!