Forever at odds -- and forever in love... It was an all-out war from the first between the Marquess of Hamperson and his newly inherited ward, Patience Witherton. She was proud, high-spirited -- anything but patient. And she vowed to safeguard her independence from the handsome guardian who was charged with keeping the headstrong Patience and her younger sister out of trouble. But Hamperson was always game for a challenge. In a passionate display of emotion he announced -- much to Patience's fury -- that his ward was to become his wife. For the marquess found the prospect of a lifetime shared with the lovely firebrand a most attractive notion... ... and Patience was discovering the rewards of living up to her name.