To her legions of adoring suitors, it comes as quite a shock when Lady Sophie York rejects an offer of marriage from the dashing, rakish Patrick Foakes in favour of amiable but dull Braddon Chatwin. He may be an earl, but it is Patrick’s stolen kisses that sear her lips.

When Patrick, in disguise, scales a ladder to retrieve his friend’s fiancee, he never expects the elopement to be his own. Neither does Sophie, Braddon, or the rest of the tattling ton. One hasty wedding later, the passionate innocent and the sophisticated rogue play out their own intricate dance as Sophie masters what it takes to keep a man where he belongs. And Patrick learns the ultimate lesson in love.