Alexander Reddington was never supposed to be the duke. He was supposed to spend his days with his beloved botany research and fulfill his life-long dream of discovering the origin of one of England's rarest plants...and beating his botanical rival to the punch. But when his childless older brother dies, leaving the title to him, his studies are going to have to take a back seat to his duties. Which include fulfilling his brother's promise to marry one of the Earl of Abberforth's daughters. The last thing Miss Lavinia Wynnburn expected was being chosen as the new Duke of Beaubrooke's wife. She'd thought that honor would have gone to her elegant eldest sister, or even her vibrant youngest sister. No one ever noticed Lavinia. Until at the biggest wedding of the season the duke walked past her sisters and asked her to dance. Now she's his duchess and has more attention and invitations than she ever dreamed. And she knows just what she's going to do with them. Get her studious husband out from under his books and into society. Much to his chagrin. Despite their clashing personalities and opposite outlooks on life, the newlyweds can't seem to help falling for one another. But unexpected discoveries reveal that past choices and intentions may not have been what they seemed, threatening everything the couple has worked to build. If they can't resolve their pasts, they'll never have a future.