Four years ago, Evelyn Wright's perfect life as a debutante in London was ripped away from her, and her family moved to the countryside. Since then, she has adjusted to the simple life, but one letter is about to send her to the city and back into the life of a socialite, forced to suffer through balls, matchmaking, scheming mothers and worst of all, despicable rakes.
Evelyn wants nothing to do with this life, eager to return home, until a fateful decision throws her into the path of one of societies most daring rakes, Nathanial Blackmore, the Duke of Winchester. He is arrogant, rich and entitled, everything she despises about men, but as the unlikely pair begin to work together to avoid the hangman's noose, she discovers that there is a lot more to him than sinful smiles and dangerous promises.
Can they escape the death sentence that hangs above them? Or is Evelyn more in danger of losing her heart, than her head?
The rake Mister Jonathan Pine has one thing in mind for this London season. He will marry a young widow who is pleasant and experienced enough to keep him satisfied in bed so he can get his hands on his grandmother's inheritance and give it to his abusive family.
What will happen when things will not go his way, and he ends up trapped with the inexperienced Diamond of the season Lady Parker and a marriage contract that forbids his family from benefitting from his inheritance?
Will the lovely Lady Parker ever make her tyrant husband understands that together, they could make a respectful and loving family instead of seeking to be accepted by the vicious family that had hated him since birth?
And things could get even more complicated when the King finds out his only goddaughter was betrothed to a man below her station, preventing her from being a Queen as per his wishes. Will the King forsake Lady Parker making the London Society and court turn their backs on her for choosing love instead of appearances?