Emma Murdock must hire a man to take her virginity in order to save her family from losing their home. She needs to marry a wealthy man and, luckily, she bears an uncanny resemblance to the missing countess who owns their home. But as a servant, she does not have access to genteel society, so she assumes the countess’s identity in order to mingle with the wealthiest in London and attain a match. Unfortunately, the countess was a widow and, unlike Emma, widows aren’t virgins. Micajah Melbourne is shocked when a beautiful woman mistakes him for a dockworker and offers him a guinea to take her virginity. He doesn’t believe the strange story she’s concocted as an explanation, but he’s concerned if he doesn’t accept her offer, she’ll hire some dangerous lowlife to do the deed. He agrees to help while he tries to learn the truth behind the lies. But the truth he thinks he’s uncovered changes his growing feelings of passion to a desire for revenge.

Penelope Winston has spent seven years deliberately scaring away suitors in order to gain her inheritance without a husband to interfere with her plans. Soon she will be able to travel the world with the freedom only allowed to spinsters and widows. But when news arrives that her childhood friend has been kidnapped, she hurries to his brother to offer help in locating the ransom. Robert Melbourne is shocked to learn his brother has been kidnapped and the ransom is a rare Egyptian statue once in his possession. Unfortunately, the statue has disappeared, and he only has a few weeks to find it. His task is difficult enough without Miss Winston’s interference. He’d spent much of his childhood avoiding “Perilous Penelope,” but when she manages to follow him despite his wishes, he discovers that the irritating child he once knew has become an intriguing woman he can’t forget.