After the death of her beloved husband, Theodosia, Lady Pattishall, has no interest in meeting the men her friend, Lady St. Ervan, wishes to introduce her to. In defense, she makes up a friend of her husband, Baron Teddington, her dear Teddy, who had been such a blessing to her during her mourning. Now that the appropriate mourning period has passed, she explains, she believes Teddy will propose.

To Theo's surprise, Josiah, Baron Teddington, appears at the same house party Theo's attending, and he plays along as her husband's dear friend!

Josiah has known many women, some quite intimately, but he's never forgotten a pretty face. And there is none prettier than Lady Pattishall, whom he's never met. By her shocked reaction, he's curious if she'd heard of him and was intrigued, or just chose him at random for her fantasies. He's glad to have these weeks ahead to find out. And to prove to her he's as sensational a lover as she's obviously heard.

What he doesn't plan on is falling in love, or having a dead man stand in the way of his happy ending.