Newly widowed and desperate to protect her estate from her malevolent brother-in-law, Martha Russell conceives a daring plan. Or rather, a daring plan to conceive. If she has an heir on the way, her future will be secured. Forsaking all she knows of propriety, Martha approaches her neighbour, a London exile with a wicked reputation, and offers a strictly business proposition: a month of illicit interludes...for a fee. Theophilus Mirkwood ought to be insulted. But how can he resist this siren in widow's weeds, whose offer is simply too outrageously tempting to decline? Theo endeavors to awaken this shamefully neglected beauty to pleasure - only to find her dead set against taking any enjoyment in the scandalous bargain. Surely she can't resist him for ever. But could her surrender open their hearts to the most unexpected arrival of all... love?