Self-effacing, overworked bookkeeper Elie Benezet doesn't have time to be in love. Too bad he already isbr /with his favorite client, Augustus Brine. The Royal Navy sailing master is kind, handsome, and breathtakinglybr /competent. He's also engaged to his childhood sweetheart. And now that his prize money is coming inbr /after years of delay, he can afford to marry her once Elie submits the final prize paperwork./ppbr /When Augustus comes home, determined to marry by the end of his brief leave, Elie does his best to setbr /his broken heart aside and make it happen. But he's interrupted by one thing after another: other clients,br /the high holidays, his family's relentless efforts to marry him off. Augustus isn't helping by renting a room downbr /the hall, shaving shirtless with his door open, and inviting Elie to the public baths. If Elie didn't knowbr /better, he'd think Augustus didn't emwant/em to get married./ppbr /To cap it all off, Augustus's fiance arrives in town, senses that Elie has a secret, and promptly accuses himbr /of embezzling. Has Elie's doom been sealed or is there still time to change his fate?/p
