When Cornelia arrived to take her place in London society she was dressed in dowdy country clothing and hiding awkwardly behind glasses.
Immediately, the beautiful Lily Bedlington knew that her husband's niece posed no threat to her intentions and began to weave the plan that would make the young Duke hers alone.
Heartbroken and desperate, Cornelia created another identity for herself - that of the intriguing coquette Desiree - and vanished from London.
With that one reckless deception Cornelia risked everything to win the Duke's love...
Having lost her parents in a tragic carriage accident, beautiful but innocent young Cornelia Bedlington, living in Ireland, has inherited an enormous fortune and her Uncle George decides that she needs a chaperone for the coming Social Season in London.Who better than her glamorous Aunt Lily who knows everyone smart!Unbeknown to George or Cornelia, though, Lily is in the throes of a love affair with the startlingly handsome Drogo, the Duke of Roehampton, who is struggling financially and she comes up with a Machiavellian deceit designed to make Drogo rich and save Lily the trouble of chaperoning Cornelia.Her suggestion is that Drogo marries Cornelia while secretly continuing his liaison with Lily!When this fascinating stranger, the Duke, suddenly proposes marriage, Cornelia is swept off her feet. And they are married in the most glamorous Wedding of the Season attended by the King and Queen.But just as love for the Duke blossoms in her heart, she is heartbroken to overhear her fianc plotting their future together with Lily and then realises the horrible truth.Soon, though, amid the heady glamour of gay and exotic Paris, she enlists the help of a sophisticated Socialite, Rene de Valm, in a desperate and cunning plan of her own to ensnare the dashing Duke's heart for herself alone! ( )