After the death of their father, the Huxtable siblings left the vicarage and set up residence in a small cottage in the village. Margaret, the eldest, took charge and with their limited income saved their pennies in order for the youngest and only son, Stephen, to attend university. Their predictable, well-organized lives are turned upside down when Viscount Lyngate appears with news that Stephen is the new Earl of Merton.

Viscount Lyngate, Elliott Wallace's, carefree life came to an abrupt end with the unexpected death of his father. Not only is Elliott in charge of his numerous holdings, he has the responsibility to take a countrified young man and prepare him to take over his cousin's title. When Margaret informs Elliott that Stephen's sisters will accompany them to their new home, Elliott sees a solution to one problem. Margaret, a beautiful woman, will make him a good wife. Their marriage will smooth the way for the other Huxtables in society. Prepared to offer for Margaret, Elliott is thrown off stride when her sister, Vanessa, proposes to him.

Vanessa cannot let Elliott offer marriage to her sister. Margaret is waiting for the man she loves to return from war, but she would accept marriage to Elliott believing duty trumps her feelings. Vanessa knows she's the plain Huxtable, but she's a widow and knows how to please a man. She needs only to convince Elliott that marriage to her would bring him pleasure and happiness.

Elliott sees nothing to commend Vanessa except the loyalty and devotion she gave her late husband. It really makes no difference which sister he marries. But after their first kiss, Elliott changes his mind. They might be complete opposites, but they cannot keep their hands off one another. Priorities are realigned and they try to adjust to marriage.

The talented Mary Balogh reigns supreme as she draws a portrait of the joys and sorrows of her characters' lives with her vast knowledge of Regency history and morés. This new four-part Huxtable series begins with a keeper, and since it is a Balogh novel, readers know the quality will not diminish with each successive story, but maintain the highest standards.

Book Summary

Against the scandal and seduction of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh introduces an extraordinary family—the fiery, sensual Huxtables. Vanessa is the second daughter, proud and daring, a young widow who has her own reason for pursuing the most eligible bachelor in London. One that has nothing to do with love. Or does it?

The arrival of Elliott Wallace, the irresistibly eligible Viscount Lyngate, has thrown the country village of Throckbridge into a tizzy. Desperate to rescue her eldest sister from a loveless union, Vanessa Huxtable Dew offers herself instead. In need of a wife, Elliott takes the audacious widow up on her unconventional proposal while he pursues an urgent mission of his own. But a strange thing happens on the way to the wedding night. Two strangers with absolutely nothing in common can’t keep their hands off each other. Now, as intrigue swirls around a past secret—one with a stunning connection to the Huxtables—Elliott and Vanessa are uncovering the glorious pleasures of the marriage bed…and discovering that when it comes to wedded bliss, love can’t be far behind.