Lady Amelia Fitzwilliam is approaching her 30th year, and her umpteenth season without selecting a husband. Her elder brother is so concerned over this state of affairs that he's tripled her already obscene dowry in hopes that the coming season will finally see her leg-shackled. Opposed to the establishment of marriage to begin with, Amelia has no intention of giving up her freedom - or the taboo predilections she engages in behind closed doors. After all, what lord of the town would submit himself to a woman who enjoys subjecting her bed-mates to pain and domination for life? Since she has yet to meet such a man, Amelia contents herself with the long life of spinsterhood stretching out before her.

Michael Darling is a simple gentleman farmer, satisfied to live out his days rusticating in the country. He has no reason to run off to London searching for a bride - except for the matter of his dire financial straits. Debt has bled his coffers dry, leaving him with only one option: quickly find and wed a woman with an enormous dowry. When he encounters Lady Amelia Fitzwilliam in a gaming hell, the lady's reputation precedes her. A wager made over a card game will put her within his grasp, but the discovery of her peculiar tastes in the bedroom has him wondering if they could ever make a good match. Soon, Michael will realize that Amelia's domination appeals to him more than he would have ever dreamed, causing him to fall rapidly under her spell. However, a dark past comes with Amelia's tendencies, making her hard to woo and even harder to love. Never one to back down from a challenge, Michael sets out to untangle the convoluted puzzle Amelia presents and, hopefully, win her heart.