Escaping the invasion of Napoleon's army, Francesca Robin seeks to flee Italy on an English ship. When Francesca—an artist whose risqué paintings are much desired by wealthy gentlemen buyers—learns of Admiral Lord Nelson's decree that no lady may gain passage on an English ship without a husband, she dares to do the find an eligible English bachelor and marry him at once. Estranged from his noble family, Captain Lord Edward Ramsden has built a stellar naval career. Proper and upstanding, he shocks himself by impulsively exchanging vows with this forward and flirtatious lady in distress. But in London, their mock marriage is turned upside down when Edward is unexpectedly named a duke—and Francesca his unlikely duchess—stunning the genteel ton. Their newfound social status invites danger and scandal—and now the duke risks all to win the heart of the woman he loves madly—his bold-spirited duchess.

When the Duchess of Harborough offers Harriet Treene a chance to model for one of her alluring paintings, Harriet accepts. Beautiful, witty, and bold, Harriet is a lowborn orange-seller in St. James Park. Can this diamond-in-the-rough be polished enough to find a place in the genteel ton—and in the heart of London's most enigmatic rake? Devilishly irresistible William Manderville, Earl of Bonnington, refuses to take a wife because the covert risks he takes for the sake of his country put him in constant danger. A painting by his friend the duchess—of a woman who looks like the goddess Venus—could change his mind, however. As the duchess plays matchmaker between the enamored earl and the mysterious beauty, William finds himself caught up in a maelstrom of powerful emotions and desires he has never felt before. But can he finally take the risk of loving a woman when his love of danger and excitement will put her in harm's way?