Cordelia Hardy is from America, where her English-born father has amassed a ridiculously vulgar fortune in trade. Spurred by his naturally aggressive personality and his intense love for his daughter, Augustus Hardy has returned to England to purchase a title for Cordelia, in the form of a husband.

The impoverished Duke of Overslate is the cousin of Cordelia's one true friend in London, Mrs. Susannah Southbie. Overcoming his distaste for such a state as marriage--and marriage to an AMERICAN!--Harry agrees to meet Cordelia. Susannah introduces the Duke to Mr. Hardy and his daughter, and Harry is intrigued by the shy but intelligent Cordelia in spite of himself. She is not pretty, or outgoing, but her manner is sweet and gentle. She is not what the Duke would have expected a Duchess to be, but he is not unhappy with the financial agreement he reaches with Mr. Hardy.

His awkwardness with women and his inexperience with the opposite sex put him at a disadvantage, and he mistakenly gives Cordelia the impression that he loves her when he is proposing to her. Cordelia had loved him at first sight, and although she is genuinely surprised by his proposal, her shock gives way to joy and happiness. Her doting father cannot bring himself to tell the naive girl that he had arranged for the marriage like he arranged his other business ventures.

The soon-to-be Duchess is an instant success in the society that had scorned and snubbed Cordelia only weeks before. But it is when she visits Overslate Castle that she receives her most painful exposure to the pride and haughtiness of Harry's family. Harry had mistakenly assumed his new bride wanted all the pomp and splendour her father was buying for her, and the house party is lavish and overwhelming to his new bride. His relatives are overbearing, judgemental and scornful of the "Dollar Duchess" while Harry's cousin, the beautiful and newly widowed Lady Eastman, clearly has her relations' vote as the new Duchess instead of this American upstart.

As her father is fond of saying, Cordelia will be led, but not driven. Yet how far can Harry's relatives drive her with their snubs and cruelty before she digs in her heels? And why isn't Harry defending his fiance, and instead allowing his cousin Lord Trevor to spend so much time with her?

A very satisfying romp! I'm looking forward to more by Rebecca Baldwin!