After a broken romance leaves her reeling from rejection, Hannah Leeds, the eldest daughter of a prosperous merchant, accepts her father's proposal to marry a poor aristocrat. It will aid her younger sisters and give her father further business contacts. Any illusions of love she had are gone. A marriage of convenience will give her children to love and that will fulfill her. Lord Ian Sutcombe is agreeable and accepts her reasons. A bargain is struck between them without any false hope of what their marriage will entail.

Lord Ian Sutcombe's pride takes a terrible blow when it becomes apparent that marriage to an heiress is the only way to restore his bankrupt estate. His father's poor choices and then his brother's illness have depleted all funds. Pushed to the wall with his strangling obligations, Ian accepts the generous bargain Mr. Leeds offers. He finds Hannah to be shy and dutiful. He believes that once he's repaired his holdings, Hannah will stay at the estate while he returns to a life in London.

Their marriage begins with tentative steps and missteps as they carve out their relationship. Hannah surprises Ian with her wanting a voice in the decisions of their life. Misunderstandings occur when they realize their marriage bargain always colors their responses to one another. A transformation takes place as they work through the difficulties and friendship soon gives way to mutual respect and love.

Ms. Layton's book is a wonderful conversation and exploration about marriage. Readers are drawn into Ian and Hannah's burgeoning relationship as they struggle to connect with each other and sort through their issues. This tale causes introspection and combines it with joy as Ian and Hannah eventually find happiness with each other.