Lady Arianna Bourgess, daughter of the late Earl of Shrewsbury has found herself in quite a pickle when her ruthless, money-hungry half brother informs her that she will have to enter into an arranged marriage to save him from ruin. Strong willed and defiant, Arianna hatches a plan to escape from her new home in Lancashire before she is wed. To her misfortune her plan is foiled by the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. Lord Ryan Forthright, 7th Duke of Lancaster and the most eligible bachelor in all of England was finally getting married. He did not wish to get married but had no choice in the matter as his father, the late Duke had arranged for him to be married just a few months before he died. He had no idea what his 'fiance' looked like but he was sure that he would never touch her until he was ready to produce an heir.