Viscount Darleigh, who was blinded by cannon fire in his very first battle, is suffocating from the well-meaning intentions of his family to find him a wife who will understand about his blindness. Tired of not being allowed to be his own man and having his life controlled by loving but meddling kin, he flees his familial home. He knows Sophia, she is different from other women, and he offers her an "arrangement". They will marry, and if there is no heir within a year, they will live separate lives, but remain married.