A man begins to fall in love with his brother's widow, and she is drawn to him as well, but there are many who would not want them to marry considering the family fortune at stake. Megan moved back home to New York after her beloved husband Erich, a celebrated Austrian pianist, killed himself in a hotel room during a concert tour of Italy. For two years Megan has nursed her broken heart and worked to get over the great tragedy. Then a call comes from Vienna - it is Erich's older brother Kurt. Erich and Kurt's father has died, and has inexplicably chosen to leave a segment of his fortune to Megan. Kurt's sardonic tone leaves Megan in no doubt that he does not think she is deserving of it, but he tells her to come to Austria anyway to meet with the bankers and get everything signed.
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Shocked and with some trepidation, Megan returns to Austria and goes up to the family estate outside Vienna. She finds Kurt attractive and seductive and exciting, disturbed by feelings of lust that she hasn't felt in years. Kurt for his part is flirtatious, but blames Megan for pushing Erich to his limits and driving him to the edge. Megan is hurt and angry by this implication and from then on Megan and Krt are always sniping and bickering at each other, but also exchanging stolen kisses. The tension is interrupted for Megan when she realizes things are going missing from her room, but the kindly family cousin Philipp tells her to just be careful of the servants. She thinks no more of it, until Kurt mentions seeing that his drawers had been rummaged through, as if someone was looking for his writing pad and pen.
Megan eventually confides in Kurt during an argument when she realizes that now her personal things in her room are being re-arranged, as if someone entered and was searching for something. Kurt quietly tells her that he'll take care of her, and he's been suspecting something like this ever since his father died, since he has found similar suspicious activity in his own room. They continue their investigation and meanwhile Megan makes plans for what she will do with her inheritance. She is invited on a ride with Kurt's cousin Philipp, and they have a picnic, where Philipp drugs her. She wakes up in a shack, with Philipp about to kill her by a traceless poison and make it look like a suicide - and now Megan understands the truth about Erich's death, and his father's death. Philipp killed them and made it look like a suicide or an accident, to cover up his track. He wants the family inheritance and title, he explains, and he needs to eliminate everyone in his way. Kurt proved difficult to eliminate so far, so Philipp is picking off the rest first. However, this time Philipp left a trail, and Kurt manages to break in and stop Philipp before he can male the drugged out Megan take the poison. Philipp is arrested, and Kurt scoops Megan up in his arms and carries her home.
As she recovers, Kurt watches over her, appearing concerned. He confesses that he had always blamed Megan for Erich's death, thinking that her marriage to Erich was so unhappy that Erich killed himself, but also hints that he was jealous, and had always wanted Megan for himself. Megan confesses that she has realized that while she had loved Erich, she had never felt the deep passion that she feels for Kurt, and knows that she loves Kurt too. They fall into bed together, and finally act out their desires.
Best part of story, including ending:
I enjoyed the descriptions of Vienna and Austria.
Best scene in story:
Megan and her mother-in-law having coffee on the veranda and talking about the family history. It was rich in historic detail and fun to read.
Opinion about the main character:
Kurt was very convincingly aristocratic and Megan was well written as a recovering widow.
