She's found the perfect plan to avoid marriage... Miss Frances Cherrington has long been criticized as independent and prickly. And she's fine with it. Truth be told, she'd prefer to be a spinster-damn her family's desires. But it's a conversation with the devilishly handsome yet highly infuriating Earl of Winthrop that inspires the perfect escape from her nuptial troubles. Frances could ensure that no one will marry her-by happily ruining her own reputation... The Earl of Winthrop knows more about ruin than anyone suspects. He's just uncovered a secret that would tear his name-and everything he's worked for-to the ground. Certainly, marriage is out of the question...to say nothing of his growing attraction to the forthright and delectable Miss Cherrington. Though all London is abuzz with Frances's "disgrace," she's determined to use her freedom however she sees fit. Even if it means spending more time with a man who sets her body on fire. But when Frances's misdeeds catch up to her, the ruinous disaster she finds herself in blazes out of control, taking all of her options with it.