by Emily Rath
First published 2023
Lady Madeline Blaire has three weeks to find a husband or lose her aunt's fortune. The socially awkward lady escapes her demanding family and flees to Alcott Hall with an unconventional plan. She will offer a man financial security in exchange for marriage, with one crucial condition: he must never claim his marital rights. Charles Bray returns to Finchley after three years away, his heart burdened by painful memories. The town holds too many ghosts from his past. When he meets the quiet young woman who makes him an unexpected proposal, Charles finds the distraction he desperately needs. Madeline's offer seems too advantageous to decline. She gains her independence and inheritance. He receives a comfortable life without romantic obligations. But as New Year's Eve approaches and their arrangement takes shape, both discover that some bargains carry complications neither anticipated. Set in the world of Emily Rath's Second Sons series, this standalone romance explores what happens when two people seeking escape from their circumstances find something neither planned to discover.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adult-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity
Setting: Alcott Hall, Finchley
Period: New Year's Eve
545 pages · Kindle Edition · Emily Rath Books