Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, is a polished bachelor who has stringent requirements for his future wife - she must be wellborn, intelligent, elegant and attractive. And of course she must be able to present herself well in high society. But when he is encouraged to consider Phoebe Marlow as a bride, Sylvester is taken aback by the coltish woman who seems to resent him… When Phoebe runs away, circumstances find the two striking up an unusual friendship. Phoebe discovers that the duke isn"t the villain she first thought. And Sylvester stumbles upon something he never dared hope for…