Secrets of a Proper Lady

Lady Cordelia is being asked to wed a man she doesn’t know by her father, Lord Marsham, who needs an influx of money to complete some deals. Without the money, the family will be in financial straits, but not destitute. She is independent and doesn't want to marry for anything but love.

Daniel Sinclair is a self-made man, although he does have family money too. He is an American in England, gaining investors for a railroad venture. His father has made a deal with Lord Marsham that Daniel will marry his daughter in order to join the two families and their shipping businesses, both of which need money. Daniel doesn’t want to, especially since he is involved in a wager to be the last of four friends to marry. He is one of the last two standing.

Daniel and Cordelia have not met. Cordelia develops a plan to have her companion and cousin Sarah meet Daniel's man of business Warren in order to gain information that will help her evaluate Daniel's character through the eyes of someone who knows him best. Her hope is that Sarah will gather the truth if she gathers the information. But at the last minute Cordelia decides she can't put Sarah in that position. She goes to meet Warren on his daily walk, but she tells him she is Sarah. Coincidentally, and unbeknownst to Cordelia, Warren has gotten ill and the man she meets is none other than Daniel. Now Daniel thinks he is talking to Sarah, so he doesn't tell her he isn't Warren, thinking to gather information about Cordelia on the sly.