Lady Violet Crafers loathes the Duke of Meacham. The sinfully handsome duke annoys her at every turn with his wicked smile and the devilish twinkle in his eye. But when she is caught in a compromising position with the duke and forced into a false courtship, she discovers beneath the beauty and the charm an intelligent, complicated man who might be intriguing rather than infuriating. Colin Withall, Duke of Meacham, finds Lady Violet’s unsubtle dislike vastly amusing. Exhausted by the search for a wife, his needling of Lady Violet at a ball or three brings welcome respite. When he is forced to offer for her hand, Colin concocts a false courtship to avoid a marriage neither of them desire. However, he quickly discovers Lady Violet’s blusterous exterior hides the vulnerable woman beneath and he cannot help but find himself wholly fascinated. As they navigate their false courtship, each discovers the other is nothing like they believed them to be. But how can a courtship that was never meant to last lead to a happily ever after?