despite the scandalous blemish on the family name of his 18 year old bride lord giles cardross is convinced beautiful helen cares for him when newlywed begins to fill her days with fashion and frivolity her husband has to wonder whether she really did marry him for his money as his family so helpfully suggests he thought they were marrying for love but as the bills and extravagant debts begin to mount up giles begins to suspect that perhaps his adored wife isnt as innocent as he supposed especially since as of late shes been unable to look him in the eyeimpetuous lady helen cardross had collected quite a basket of little white lies in her efforts to help those less fortunate than herself there were for example her own dashing debtridden brother and her husbands lovesick youthful sister but to her adored and adoring lord and master there could be no dissembling of integrity honor or truth one faced up to grim reality unless one were lady helenwhen his familys priceless jewels disappear lord cardross is aghast at the idea that his lovely new wife might be the culprit but he soon discovers the truth about lady nells situation and between his concern over his wifes spending sprees rescuing her impulsive brother from one scrape after another and attempting to prevent his own halfits no wonder the muchtried earl cant see where hes gone wrong and now owing a shocking amount of money nell doesnt dare tell him the truththat shes loved him from the first and thought hed married her for convenience