A bride wasn´t in his plans . . . The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night´s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he´s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he´s bought a wife. A duke wasn´t in hers . . . Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever. The road to ruin . . . Marcus doesn´t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn´t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn´t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he´ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.