Spenser Keenan, Earl of Kellworth married Emma Chambers when she was seventeen in order to prevent her from having to marry his uncle. Their bargain was that it would be a marriage "in name only." Emma would have the security of his home and he would be able to travel the world. Spenser also promised Emma that he would provide what ever financial aid she needed to run the estate and that he would always take care of her.

After fighting at Waterloo, Spenser returns to London with his childhood friends, Theobold Blakewell and Gideon Wolfe, to live a rogues' life. He engages in a duel and declared dead by a drunken physician. His cohorts plan to return his body to Kellworth for burial. Emma insists on seeing her husband's body and discovers that he had been placed in the coffin alive.

During his recovery, Spenser cannot understand why the estate is in such need of repair and has only a skeleton staff. Emma informs him the funds he promised were cut in half and that she sent numerous letters pleading with him for more money. Spenser swears to Emma that he never received her letters nor did he reduce her funds. He is appalled by the hardship Emma endured because of his neglect. Spenser tells Emma that he will do anything she wants to make it up to her.

Emma wants a new bargain -- she wants him to give her a child and funds to raise the child. Spenser panics! He wants to make love to his wife but he does not want to sire a child. His parents were killed when he was young, so he remembers the loneliness and he doesn't want to do that to his child.

When Emma decides to seduce her husband it is apparent that she is an innocent. The episode with the pigs was hilarious. But, the best part was that when the book ended all your questions were answered. Ms. Perkins has written a wonderful romance. This is the type of book that got me hooked on historical romances. I only hope that she gives us Blake and Wolfe's story.