Considered unmarriageable by many due to her questionable parentage, May has let her hopes for true love fade and devoted herself to a life caring for her ailing aunt. But when May is unable to pay rent on the humble cottage in which she and her aunt reside, she must plead her case to the imposing viscount willing to toss two helpless women in the gutter. A wounded hero of the Peninsula campaign,Viscount Radford Evers is known for his harsh bearing, stubborn pride, and skillful avoidance of wedding vows. But with his family pressuring him to marry and produce an heir, he has little choice but to begin the search for a bride. To this end, he creates a list detailing the perfect wife.  May meets none of the list's criteria, so why does his heart beat madly at the sight of the elegantly shabby miss? He is sorely tempted to toss his list and all that's right and proper into the fire to marry this most unsuitable lady...