Hugh Rutherford, Lord Garson, loved and lost when his fiancée returned to the husband she'd believed drowned. In the three years since, Garson has come to loathe his notoriety as London's most famous rejected suitor. It's high time to find a bride, a level-headed, well-bred lady who will accept a loveless marriage and cause no trouble. Luckily, he has just the candidate in mind.

When Lady Jane Norris receives an unexpected proposal from her childhood friend Lord Garson, marriage to the handsome baron rescues her from a grim future. At twenty-eight, Jane is on the shelf and under no illusions about her attractions. While she's aware Garson will never love again, they have friendship and goodwill to build upon. What can possibly go wrong? But from the first, things don't go to plan, not least because Garson soon finds himself in thrall to his surprisingly intriguing bride after the Dashing Widows take Jane in hand and transform her into the toast of London. This isn't the uncomplicated, pragmatic match he signed up for …