Lady Charity Curtiss had endured the taunts and ribbings from her family for years about the amiable and steady Mr. Timothy Cartwright, heir to the Earl of Montlake. However, he was not the man she wanted to marry.

One night at a ball, Charity found a dashing young duke who seemed interested in the game of cat-and-mouse she wanted to play. Unfortunately, the duke showed his claws, Charity was humiliated, but before she could escape, who should come to her rescue but the indefatigable Mr. Timothy Cartwright. All would have been well if his aunt had not caught them together and fainted.

Forced to marry the dreadful creature, Charity finds much to her surprise that Timothy Cartwright wants nothing to do with her. Whether by design or request, his employment takes him away from home more often than he stays. Charity is shunned within Society and without, as her scandalous marriage is all anyone still talks about.

Three months after the wedding, Timothy is sent on a mission to Spain. Trying to help a friend, Charity does the one thing he asked her not to do while he was away—cause another scandal.
Upon his return, Charity discovers the truth about her husband and the deal he made with her uncle and the marriage contract. Now she understood why he wanted nothing to do with her. Mr. Timothy Cartwright might not want another scandal, but Charity would give him one. She wanted a divorce.