Guinevere Smalls was never meant for the gilded cage of the aristocracy. When her father's ruinous debts fall into the hands of the cold and commanding Lord Aiden Hill, she becomes the ultimate collateral. Traded for a signature and a title, she is whisked away to the imposing limestone walls of Mansfield Manor. There, the Duke's rigid military discipline meets her trembling innocence in a clash of wills and desires. Bound by a ring of gold and the weight of the Mansfield name, Guinevere finds herself trapped in a world of tight silk corsets and even stricter rules. As the London Season looms, she must navigate a treacherous social landscape while surrendering to the Duke's exacting gaze.