Cormac Stockwell, Marquess of Burness, has given everything for his country, including his left arm. He just wants to be left alone to destroy himself, but his beloved and meddlesome brother has unexpectedly sent Cormac his two little nieces, whom he adores, to care for over the summer. How can he take them under his wing when he cannot even take care of himself? And now his impudent neighbor, Lady Phoebe, is pounding on his door and insisting he reform his wicked ways or she will not turn over the girls to him. He wants to tell the priggish but beautiful nuisance to mind her own business and stay out of his affairs. However, he must have been drunker than he realized when she came to his door, for he asks her to marry him instead.