A sensual tale of mutual shyness and masterful slyness

When the painfully shy Baron David Engleston receives an invitation to join a friend for a few days of playing cards and dancing at the Soho Club, he accepts. Given the incessant rain falling on all of England, he may as well spend some time in the capital. He can feel glum there just as well as in Kent—at least until the moment a young lady in a yellow gown appears from the room adjacent to his and asks, “Are you my betrothed?”

Miss Marian Copper has come to the Soho Club in the company of her uncle and guardian, the Earl of Penhurst, believing he has arranged a marriage on her behalf. So when she nearly collides with a handsome man at the club, she assumes he's the one, especially when he doesn't hesitate to reply, “Why, yes. Yes I am.”

Without so much as an introduction, these two embark on one of the shortest betrothals possible. Given the earl's ridiculous terms and conditions, can there be a happily ever after in their future? Well, this is the Soho Club.

Note: This story was originally part of the anthology, Summer Secrets of the Soho Club.