A kiss in the gardens. A ruined reputation. A wager without a winner. Having been caught kissing an earl's heir in the gardens during a ball, Lady Lucy has been relegated to the company of potted palms and wallflowers at London entertainments. The incident might have happened three years ago, but time hasn't lessened the stain on her reputation. Despite behaving as a perfect young lady ever since, she is rarely asked to dance nor has anyone courted her. She's beginning to think she will end up a spinster. One thing is certain—she intends to collect what's she's owed by the rake who kissed her. They had made a wager, and she won.
Meanwhile, Marcus has disappeared from London, some say to run the Greenley earldom from its country estate in Staffordshire. In reality, the only son of Maxwell, Earl of Grump—as he's better known— left on a Grand Tour the day after he met and kissed a most intriguing young woman. Despite the nearly three years that have passed, he can't get her out of his mind. Besides, they made a wager, and he's quite sure he was the winner. Now back on British shores, Marcus is determined to discover what's become of the young lady—and collect what he's owed.
