You have no family, no home and no prospect of marrying.

That might be true, but Venetia Forbes didn't see her situation as any reason to accept Professor Duert ter Laan-Luitinga's prosaic proposal! But after tasting champagne for the first time in her life, Venetia was astounded to hear herself saying yes.

My ward needs an example of a contented, harmonious marriage.
Without love Venetia was convinced their marriage might be anything but harmonious by the time young Anneta went to her aunt in America!

And what would happen to their marriage then?