Includes bibliographical references.

When Peter Hathorn proposes to his childhood sweetheart, Jenny Monroe, the outcome is far from the happy ending he envisioned. Before she can give him an answer, Jenny falls desperately ill. He does all in his power to ensure her recovery, but something between them has changed. Determined to win Jenny's hand, he proposes each time he sees her, never realizing that the woman he loves harbors a secret that makes it impossible for her to accept. After surviving the illness that claimed the lives of her parents, Jenny's own life is changed in ways she never imagined possible. When her parentage is called into question, Jenny must delve into the truth of her identity--and what she discovers turns her entire world upside down. Although she learns to embrace an inner worth that defies social status, she knows it's unrealistic to expect Peter to do the same. It's time for them to leave behind their childish dreams of happily ever after.