Description:Mary Allamont was resigned to spinsterhood, quite happy to keep house for her father and unruly brothers, until her step-mother returned to disrupt their lives. Then an eligible match failed when it was engulfed by an old family scandal. Now she's desperate for any way to escape, but an unexpected proposal might bring her more challenges than she can cope with. Daniel Merton gave up the possibility of a career or marriage to support his friend, Sir Osborne Hardy, whose life is dominated by his mother and sisters. Now Osborne wants to help a lady in distress, and Daniel is just the man to smooth the way. But if he helps his friend to happiness, must he give up his own chance of love?