Lord Evan Haddington, the new Marquess of Berkshire, has only recently inherited his title from his deceased uncle. With the title comes many things, including Cassandra, the not-exactly-young ward of his late uncle. Saddled with a woman that he must protect or risk losing his claim upon the marquisate, Evan is also faced with the rather pressing need to take a wife. Miss Cassandra Grove has been called to London to claim her inheritance from her late aunt, the Marchioness of Berkshire. Instead of finding a solicitor at the door, however, she is met by the obstinate new marquess who refuses to turn over a business that is rightfully Cassandra's by law. However his upcoming wife hunt now threatens to upset the precarious peace the household enjoys. When another man hopes to use Cassandra to strip Evan of his title, both of them come to the conclusion that they must prevent such a thing at all costs - even if it means they both must make sacrifices - including an unwanted marriage to each other.