Helen, the Countess Godwin, knows there is nothing more unbearably tedious than a virtuous woman. After all, she's been one for ten long years while her scoundrel of a husband lives with strumpets and causes scandal after scandal. So she decides it's time for a change: she styles her hair in the newest, most daring mode, puts on a shockingly transparent gown and goes to a ball like Cinderella, hoping to find a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet . . . and into his bed.

But instead of a prince, she finds only her own volatile, infuriatingly handsome husband, Rees, the Earl Godwin. They'd eloped to Gretna Green in a fiery passion, but passions can sometimes burn too hot to last. However, Rees now makes her a brazen offer, and Helene decides to become his wife again . . . but not in name only. No, this time she decides to be very, very wicked indeed.