Young Araminta is an innocent lady and a great cook, to help her family in a wager, she cooking undercover for the Marquis of Wayne. After the Marquis met her, he kissed her masterfully, passionately. "Tomorrow," he said, "I will take you to a house I have in the country. You will be safe there, and no one will insult you or assault you ever again. " Araminta felt as though an icy hand was squeezing the warmth of new love from her heart. Though young and innocent, she understood the cold meaning of his words. "Are you... asking me... " she began. "I am offering you my protection, Araminta. You will be mine, and we will be blissfully happy together. " Trapped in painful awareness, Araminta fled from the garden in shame.