While her beloved parents were alive, beautiful young Cledra Melford had basked in the radiance of their love, barely noticing they were poor. But since they were tragically killed and she came to live with her hateful, bitter uncle Sir Walter Melford she has been cruelly abused. The violent beatings Cledra can almost bear – but when he decides to sell her adored horse Star to a man known for cruelty, it is the last straw. And so Cledra appears at the door of the dashing Earl of Poynton – famed among the sporting fraternity for his pedigree stable and in the Social World for his many affaires de coeur. Cledra begs him to secretly buy Star to ensure he’ll be safe – and, renaming the horse Winged Victory, the Duke agrees. Soon, when Sir Walter wreaks a violent revenge on his niece the horrified Earl rescues her and whisks her away with a death hard on their heels – and love not far behind.