"A young lady with a fortune is subject to all sorts of untoward attentions by the worst sort of vagrants."
Aunt Allegra
A lesson Tabitha Timmons, a penniless spinster, has never
needed to heed. That is, until she is left a vast fortune payable
only upon her marriage to the very respectable Mr. Barkworth-a match that offers little chance of discovering exactly
what her aunt means by "untoward attentions."
But the same can't be said when the Duke of Preston
happens along Tabitha's path. He spies a rebellious streak in
her that matches his own and he makes it his mission
to save her from such a passionless match, interfering in her
life at every turn. All too soon, Preston-whose very
name spells ruin-has Tabitha caught between
the good fortune that guarantees her security,
and his kiss, which promises an entirely
different kind of happily-ever-after.