Emily Faringdon is a spinster with a romantic nature and has fallen in love with Simon Traherne, Earl of Blade, through their letters discussing romantic poetry. When she finally meets him, she is certain he is the man of her dreams. He is handsome and does not care about her old scandal of a failed elopement.
Emily discovers that Simon hates her father, who won Simon's family home in a card game and caused Simon's father to commit suicide. Despite his intent to use Emily for revenge, she still finds he is the person she fell in love with. Emily surprises Simon by suggesting they marry, then he can better carry out his plan of revenge. He had planned to bring financial ruin on the Faringdons but learns that Emily is the financial genius behind the family's fortune. With her lively character and open adoration of him, he slowly begins to fall in love with her and she slowly begins to show him that revenge will not bring him the happy future he seeks.
This report prepared by L. Watson
