Lord Gabriel Sharpe has spent the last seven years, since his best friend Roger Waverly's death, drowning in guilt and dealing with it the only way he knows how: accepting any challenge to race no matter how dangerous. When Virginia Waverly challenges Gabe to race the same course as the one that killed her brother Roger, Gabe realizes that Virginia is just what he needs to fulfil Gran's ultimatum: marriage or no inheritance. With General Waverly accusing Gabe of Roger's death and Virginia's refusal of him upon learning about his inheritance, Gabe is getting further and further from his goal of convincing Virginia to marry him. The only way Gabe can think to show Virginia he cares is to denounce his inheritance and make his fortune racing.