Lord James Melton is the second oldest brother and the first spare, heir apparent unless his brother has a son. He resides in a townhouse in London during the Season where he enjoys a well-earned reputation as a Rake. But James adores his nieces and always visits the Dorset Estate in the off-season. Abigail is the middle daughter of five. Her mother has already married off 4 daughters, finances are low and she is now ailing in health. They have moved from a large house in Bath to a smaller sea-front townhouse in Weymouth for the sea bathing which her doctor recommended. When a chance encounter has James and Abigail meeting, the rake is delighted to have a new lady to pursue and plots to have her invited to a soiree at the Duke's Estate. He soon finds out she has been scorned by society thanks to a jilted engagement, and thinks that makes her mistress material. Abigail believes James is genuinely courting her, but becomes wary when she hears the gossip about his rakish ways. Her fears become reality when James makes a mistress proposal to Abigail. Understandably, the gently born lady is outraged. When James realises that Abigail is the one for him, how will he make the lady forgive him for everything he's done?