Believing she's unlikely to ever have any man offer her marriage, unconventional Lady Chloe Albright impetuously seizes the chance of a pretend engagement with Lord Christopher Fellingham, Earl of Twyford. Having loved Kit for years, she's learnt to carefully hide the pain of knowing that she is no more to him than his friend's studious little sister. But should she now put her research skills to good use and try some experiments in love?

At turns kissed, flirted and argued with, Kit doesn't know whether he is more amused, annoyed or–dare he admit it?–aroused by Chloe's unexpected attention. Suddenly he's wishing that their pretend engagement could become the real thing!