London, 1821.
Frances Catesby may be an heiress, but she has no intention of losing her wealth to a fortune-hunting husband. In fact, she has no intention of marrying at all. Ever since her father's death from a heart attack, all she cares about is finishing her book on heart disease, which she has been writing in secret. But Frances has one big problem: in order to complete her book, she needs access to the Royal College of Surgeons, and there's no way they'll allow a woman inside those hallowed halls.
Arthur Wellington, the Marquess of Ashford, has no intention of marrying either. A confirmed rake, he would rather spend his days gambling, drinking, and romancing women than fulfilling his duties as the new Lord of Cletcham Hall-including taking over his late father's seat on the Board of the Royal College of Surgeons. But Arthur has one big problem: his father's death has revealed a dwindling fortune, and if Arthur wants to save his family's estate, he'll have to marry an heiress, and fast.
When Frances sneaks into Ashford House in order to study the body of the late Marquess of Ashford, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the brooding, enigmatic Arthur. However, despite their initial attraction, Frances and Arthur soon clash over his unserious ways and her bookish condescension.
Nevertheless, it doesn't take long for the pair to realize they might be the answer to each other's prayers: Frances's fortune would save the Ashford marquessate from ruin, while Arthur could use his influence to get Frances a spot in the Royal College of Surgeons.
A marriage of convenience seems like the perfect solution. They both agree: no feelings, no romance, and certainly no physical intimacy. But as they begin to share a home-and a bed-sparks soon fly.
- Can Arthur overcome the fear that he'll never be good enough for his brilliant wife?
- Can Frances learn to embrace romance without sacrificing her medical career?
- And can the two of them outwit a vengeful Viscount, London's most notorious body-snatcher, and their own ghosts in order to find true love?
