Miles Yardley has spent years admiring the girl next door—only to find himself in an impossible predicament. With a newly inherited estate, he finally has the means to offer for Grace Jenkins, the woman who has captivated him for as years. But just as he gathers his courage, he learns she is heading to London for a Season—not to enjoy the delights of the ton, but to secure a titled husband. Worse still, she enlists his help in navigating society, asking him to introduce her to the very men who could take her away from him. Miles and his friends hatch a scheme—steering her toward the most disagreeable suitors in the hope that she will see reason. But when their plan misfires spectacularly and Miles finds himself blackballed from every London club, he realizes he may have miscalculated badly.

Grace Jenkins knows she can’t marry for love—but that doesn’t mean she can afford to fail. The daughter of a stable master, she was never intended for society, but thanks to her brother’s determination, the Jenkins name is on the cusp of acceptance. Now it is her duty to raise their status higher—by marrying a lord. With the right introductions and her substantial dowry, she is confident she can succeed. But every outing she makes with potential suitors ends in disaster—torn gowns and mortifying accidents leave her humiliated. As the Season wears on, Grace begins to wonder…if it weren’t for titles and duty, would she want any husband but him?

As schemes unravel, reputations teeter on the brink of ruin, and Miles faces social exile for his meddling, Grace’s carefully laid plans begin to slip through her fingers. For the first time, Grace wonders if duty is truly worth the cost of happiness, while Miles must decide if he is willing to fight for the woman he loves—even if it means letting her go.