Lady Lucinda Esmond’s swine of a father was forever fleecing young bucks in London’s gaming halls - until he met Captain Mark Chamfrey who, having been once cheated, would not be made a fool of again and promptly kidnapped ten-year-old Lucinda for ransom!

But, when Chamfrey thought better of it and returned the girl, Esmond nonetheless exacted his own price: Chamfrey could redeem himself and save his skin by marrying his little victim nine years hence, just time enough for Chamfrey to inherit a title and fortune.

Lucinda’s father could not have foreseen what a beauty Lucinda would become, nor that Chamfrey, a newly made Marquess, would actually welcome the fulfillment of what was supposed to be his punishment.