When her father dies, leaving her penniless and without prospects, Elizabeth Medford is faced with a horrible future: marriage to the utterly vile Harold Wetherby. Her family thinks he's brilliant choice, but Elizabeth has witnessed Wetherby's cruel nature and knows a life with him would be a miserable one. If only he didn't want to marry her...But for that to be the case, she would have to have a damaged reputation, and despite her father's missteps, Elizabeth's own name is pristine among society. So far...A brilliant plan is hatched: Elizabeth will organise her ruin and escape the betrothal, leaving her old life behind. The only hitch is the man she hopes will do the ruining - irresistible Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort. But he has secrets of his own that make Elizabeth Medford a woman he should avoid at all costs - for both their sakes. He insists he will have no part in her crazy scheme...no matter how tempting she may be.