Lady Verity wants nothing more than to provide a safe home for her sister, whose simple-mindedness is often misunderstood. When Lady Verity's father and husband both die, passing their house to a stranger, she vows to do whatever she must to ensure her sister's safety. The new earl has a reputation for being a rake, and Lady Verity is prepared to make him an offer he cannot refuse. Daniel Palmer has run from his past for years, hiding from his failures and inadequacies by burying himself in cards, drink, and women. When a distant cousin and his heir both die, leaving Daniel with a title, house, and responsibilities he does not want, Daniel's impulse is to run. But his mother has different plans, and she invites the previous earl's widow and her two daughters to Arden Castle so they can become acquainted on neutral territory.