About the book: 2016 / Angered by his mother’s continuous attempts to marry him, the incorrigible bachelor Griffin York, Duke of Halford, decides to teach his mother a good lesson - and chooses his bride... a maid from a pastry shop in a seaside resort town. And he promises to pay the “bride” herself an absolutely fantastic sum if she will rid the Dowager Duchess of all thoughts about her son’s marriage within a week. However, the crafty Griffin falls into his own snare - the beauty, sharp mind and strong character of Pauline Simms conquer him so much that very soon the Duke only dreams of begging the poor maid for consent to become his wife, consent which she is in no hurry to give.