Jasper Sullivan Earl of Blackwater needs a prostitute. Not in the usual way however. His wealthy uncles will promises to divide his huge fortune among his nephews if each rescues a fallen woman ... by marrying her! And since Jaspers estates were already mortgaged to the hilt before he inherited them when he catches a pretty young prostitute trying to pick his pocket he immediately makes his proposal. Clarissa Astley is not at all what Jasper believes. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous merchant she is searching the seedier districts of London for her young brother abducted by their evil guardian who wants the little boys inheritance. But she needs powerful help and the darkly handsome Earl of Blackwater is certainly that. So she pretends to be exactly what he assumed --- a risky charade for an innocent virgin. But when passion flares between Jasper and Clarissa the deception becomes even more difficult to handle ...