Ophelia Wright is undeniably beautiful, but she is also plagued by a reputation for being of bad character. After sabotaging her engagement arranged by her ambitious father with the future Marquis Duncan McTravis, Ophelia wants to return to the social arena of London and choose a husband for herself. But something unexpected happens on her journey back, and her carriage will be forced to make a detour...
Raphael Locke, the heir to a dukedom, is one of the most sought-after bachelors in England, although marriage is not high on his list of priorities. He has disliked Ophelia ever since her scandalous schemes to ruin her engagement with his friend Duncan McTravis, but there are times when her beauty makes him think differently.
Disappointed Duncan McTravis declares that Ophelia will never be anything more than a bitter spinster that no man would want by his side, and Raphael Locke decides to take up the challenge and make a dangerous bet: That he will succeed in transforming Ophelia into a well-behaved lady and a desirable bride for all the men in London.

To achieve this, he will have to arrange a small "detour" and weave a diabolical plan, so diabolical that he may end up caught in it himself.