Lord Marshall Sutherland wanted a wife. He had also known exactly who he wanted as his wife for precisely a year. Unfortunately, Miss I.P. Bright was a pseudonym and locating the woman of his dreams had taken a considerable amount of time, effort and money on his part. He had spent the better part of his time last year at the blasted London Season only to discover that it was apparent Miss I.P. Bright - whoever she was- did not run in the same circles as him. It had been an irksome and trying experience because now every débutante and her mama thought that he sought a wife, any wife. But that wasn't the case. He was hunting for a particular woman and no other woman would do. Marshall was a man of definable tastes and once he knew what he wanted, he generally got it. Miss Imogen Brightmore did not want a husband, especially one the likes of Lord Marshall Sutherland, who boorishly and chauvinistically opposed her anonymously published articles. So when a handsome, intelligent and agreeable country gentleman comes to town, Imogen finds herself surprisingly attracted to him and little does she suspect that he harbors a secret that could ruin their blossoming courtship.

Captain Cole Stanley was a man bound to the sea and lands beyond the stifling industry of London. There was no space in his busy lifestyle for a woman, especially not a prim little miss like Oriana Brightmore. Yet despite her shyness, there appeared to be an underlying wit and spirit to her personality that Cole begins to find irresistible. Oriana always thought that her future-husband should be charming and even-tempered; none of which belonged to Captain Stanley- the odious guest residing with the Ashcroft's for a short spell. Although the obnoxious man vexed her beyond reason, he also may just be her only solution to finding a man who will want her- one that was currently on his way to the Americas.