A lady in possession of a fortune has no need for a husband. Julia Swifton, secure in that belief, has no interest in finding one, not even after three seasons in London. That is, until her grandmother reveals her plans to marry her to a notorious rake, Lord Thorwynn. Julia will do anything not to marry him, but when he proposes a false engagement for reasons of his own, she plays along. That will solve the problem, she thinks. Lord Thorwynn is perfectly happy with his lifestyle, but a chance encounter forces him into a disagreeable situation. A temporary engagement to bluestocking Miss Swifton will resolve his difficulty and he will walk away free. However, as feelings between them flare up, it isn’t long before both of them realize that they’re in more of a muddle than they thought.