Peregrine Russell, Perry to his closest friends, is the fifth Duke of St. Bryant. He wasn't going to be, however. Jasper, his older brother who was also his very best friend, was heir to the title. But Jasper, aged 19, died in an accident with Perry, who was 17 at the time. Perry has never been the same since. He becomes a philandering wastrel-he blames himself for Jasper's death, and so does his father. Perry has chosen to stay away from home as much as possible. But when his father dies, leaving Perry as the new duke, he is forced to return home. His mother hasn't wanted much to do with him either, so it is a surprise to him when she appears in his parlour one afternoon demanding that he must find a woman to marry now that he has a title.