After three failed seasons, Julia Montford is finally seeing her freedom on the horizon, despite her brother, the Viscount Montford's insistence that marriage is her destiny. But no amount of stolen kisses in London gardens at midnight has convinced her that she's found the magic of love and desire. That is, not until she wagers against her old childhood friend, Benjamin Burton, who's no longer a child but an experienced British cavalry captain with broad shoulders, deep blue eyes and a pair of lips that sends her plans toppling over like a pile of syllabub. When caught out in their moment of passion, parson's mousetrap threatens, forcing Julia and Ben into a false courtship. Well, maybe false in Julia's eyes, but Ben has other plans that involve kissing, wooing and wedding Julia with the help of The School for Sophistication's intrepid duo, Lady Caro and the Dowager Lady Rutherford.