A young noblewomen distressed when she suspects her guardian's younger son and his wife are impatient to inherit his earldom, goes in search of his older son who has been banished from society because of an unfortunate duel. Now known as a notorious mercenary, she persuades him to pose as her husband to facilitate his return to society and in doing so, accepts his scandalous trade. Can she persuade him to abandon the dark path he believes is his fate...

Pierce Waverly, the Earl of Devonmont, has been estranged from his mother for most of his life. When his mother's new companion, Mrs. Camilla Stuart, writes to tell him that his mother is seriously ill, he goes home. But when he learns that the lovely widow tricked him in order to effect a holiday reconciliation, he refuses to stay unless she meets his "terms".

Lady Phaedra Northampton and Lady Zoe Armstrong are best friends who couldn't be more different from each other. Phaedra is a good girl, always doing what she's told and being the perfect lady, while Zoe is the bad girl, continually getting into trouble and acting like a hoyden. The pair decides to help each other with their "faults" and stop behaving so predictably. When Phaedra gets involved in solving a mystery with rake Tristan Talbot, sparks...