Shy, awkward, and plain, Lady Hyacinth Bellamy long ago accepted that marriage and family—and especially romantic love—was not for a woman like her.
But that's just fine with Hy because she has dreams of a better life, one in which she will be independent and free from fear and shame. Hy's not just dreaming, she's been working toward her new life for years and it's almost within her grasp.
Unfortunately, before she can embrace her future, she has to break one final shackle to her past. Thanks to her father’s reckless gambling, her beloved siblings are facing homelessness. Luckily, there is one thing Hy excels at and that's playing cards and winning money. Lots of money.
Hy’s precious nest egg--which she has scrimped and saved for years to accumulate--is almost enough to keep the roof over her family’s head for another year. All Hy needs to do is earn enough to pay the rest of the loan and then she will be free to start her new life.
Everything is going smoothly and according to plan.
Until the meddling Duke of Chatham gets in her way…