If one is not marrying for love one may as well marry for something else. My future countess has to be sufficiently docile & endowed with at least passable grace of form deportment & address. " Gyles Rawlings fifth Earl of Chillingworth & honorary member of the Cynster clan is determined not to succumb to the dangers of falling in love. To that end he makes an offer of marriage
- sight unseen
- to the niece of an old friend. He believes hes chosen a biddable lady who will bear him an heir & leave his emotions unattached. He arrives for his own wedding without ever actually meeting his fianc & at the altar is astonished to discover that hes offered for the wrong woman. His new wife is a passionate hoyden who makes his head spin. Francesca isnt docile certainly not biddable & she has no intention of settling for anything less than her husbands heart."