A wicked rake and a ruined lady… Lady Madeline Maddox has a secret. Actually, Maddie has several. The worst one isn’t that she accidentally kissed a known rake, Lord Adam Ridgely, in the garden at the Everston’s Ball. Nor is it that the editor of the London Standard published her scandal for all of London. Her greatest error was sending a series of letters to that same publisher detailing her deepest desires for social change. Even though she sent essays under a nom de plume, they have the power to bring real harm, not just to herself, but to her family as well. But how can she protect herself and them as a ruined woman? And why can’t she stay away from the rake who ruined her? Lord Ridgely will only make her problems worse, won’t he? The Earl of Ridgely learned long ago to keep his dalliances short and sweet. He has no use for emotional attachments, they only provide unnecessary complication. But when there is a case of mistaken identity in the garden and he inadvertently ruins a respectable lady, Adam has no choice but to offer marriage to Maddie. Except that the duke’s daughter grows more and more interesting with each passing day and her past… well it’s not so innocent. In fact, the lady needs his help. The question is, can he give her what she requires without losing his heart?