Her parents' death has left Kelsey Langton penniless - and responsible for the well-being of her younger sister, Jean. Kelsey knows that the only way to avert their doom is to allow herself to be sold at auction. Resigned to becoming the plaything of a well-heeled gentleman, she gets more than she bargained for. Lord Derek Malory is the highest bidder - a dashing rakehell from a family of charming London rogues. Enthralled by the lovely young woman with shining eyes and dark hair, he purchases her to be his mistress, unaware of the true worth of his prize. He never imagined that this woman he so frivolously acquired would be blessed with all the attributes he was looking for in a wife - grace, wit, intelligence as well as beauty. He certainly never expected to fall in love.