Margaret Huxtable put her life on hold as she fulfilled her promise to her dying father to raise her younger siblings. Her pledge completed, Margaret begins to look to her future. At 30-years-old, she knows the difficulty of finding a husband and starting her own family. Her plans dissolve as she comes face-to-face with a former faithless suitor. Unable to contain her pride, Margaret lies, telling him she is secretly betrothed. Then Margaret's lie takes on a life of its own and sets in motion a ridiculous chain of events.

Five years ago, Duncan Pennethorne, the Earl of Sheringford, fled London with his future brother-in-law's wife on the eve of his own wedding leaving his bride at the altar. Duncan returns after his lover's death to stop his grandfather from disinheriting him. His cagey grandfather demands a stiff price to reinstate him. Duncan must wed an acceptable bride in two weeks. Desperate to find a bride, Duncan slips into a ball, bumping into a lady fleeing the ballroom. Having imbibed a few drinks for courage, Duncan opens his mouth and asks the complete stranger to marry him. Instead of receiving a slap in the face, the lady grabs Duncan and introduces him as her betrothed to the gentleman trailing behind her.

Duncan feels like he's fallen into a bizarre dream. Not believing his luck, Duncan sets out to woo Margaret, who accepts her stupidity, but refrains from exposing her lie. Since meeting Duncan, she has crammed more living in a few days than in months of her normal life. Maybe coincidence (or fate) is giving each of them another chance at happiness.

The incomparable and gifted storyteller Mary Balogh continues her Huxtable family saga with an exceptional love story of two people who had given up on love. She elegantly portrays Margaret and Duncan overcoming the obstacles in their paths as they struggle to reconcile the past with hope of a bright future.

Book Summary

Step into a world of scandal, intrigue, and enthralling passion as New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh sweeps us into the lives of an extraordinary family: the Huxtables.

Margaret, the eldest, embarks on the most risqué adventure of her life and agrees to marry the most notorious man in London.…

Only desperation could bring Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford, back home after the spectacular scandal that had shocked even the jaded ton. Forced to wed in fifteen days or be cut off without a penny, Duncan chooses the one woman in London in frantic need of a husband.

A lie to an old flame forces Margaret Huxtable to accept the irresistible stranger’s offer. But once she discovers who he really is, it’s too late—she’s already betrothed to the wickedly sensual rakehell. Quickly she issues an ultimatum: If Duncan wants her, he must woo her. And as passion slowly ignites, two people marrying for all the wrong reasons are discovering the joys of seduction—and awaiting the exquisite pleasure of what comes after….