St. John "Sinjin" Stuart is not the duke of Avondale, but he has been recalled from a decade at sea to serve as a placeholder for his brother, the real duke. And the only thing worse than being a useless aristocrat is being a useless aristocrat in deep mourning.

Lucinda Mallory is the ruined sister of a landed baron who became baron when their father shot himself in the head to get out of paying his incredible gambling debts. With the help of friends, she's found a way to use her father's vice to earn the money to pay those debts.

But now one of her friends can't place bets using her insider information anymore. The two of them overcome their preconceptions to develop a romance.

And then an Egyptian official brings him his brother's signet ring…and she balks at becoming a duchess.

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