Though Lady Elizabeth Wayland would rather spend her days with her beloved books than an uncaring spouse, scandal forces her to find a match posthaste. To escape the scoundrel who almost ruined her, Elizabeth accepts an unconventional proposal from a childhood friend, but when she finds herself falling for her husband-to-be, will she be able to convince him to return her love? Widowed cotton mill owner Miles Hawthorne vowed to never marry again--until Elizabeth's reputation is on the line. Their betrothal begins as a simple favor. As he spends more time with his fiancee, though, Miles finds that there's more to her than he ever saw before. And Elizabeth just might be the only woman who can slip into his heart.