Noah Winters, the eighth duke or Anselm, needs a wife. But not any wife will do- she must be mature and not give to the flights of fancy and emotion of the other young ladies of the ton. Lady Araminthea Collins will do- she is has composure, she doesn't do anything to draw unwanted attention, is pleasing to the eye and not in a position to be choosy. So Noah is surprised when Lady Thea asks for a kiss before considering Noah's proposal.

Thea Collins is surprised by Noah Winters proposal. She knows that she isn't his first choice and doesn't feel she is duchess material. But as a companion whose charge is of marital age, and a family in financial distress, Thea has few choices open to her and soon finds herself the duchess of Anselm. But marriage is not the civilized arrangement that either of them bargained for.

Grace Burrowes weaves a compelling story of two characters finding themselves married in haste and learning about the life of marriage. As Thea and Noah wade in the waters of matrimony, you can't help but keep reading to see how their marriage develops. Burrowes has you cheering for both characters from the first paragraph as Noah bungles his marriage proposal, and Thea learns to find herself worthy of being the duchess of Anselm. Noah is a constant surprise to her- from his affinity to pets and the family he cares and provides. He also seems to genuinely want Thea to be his wife in every way and they way Noah and Thea find their way is a delight. Grace Burrowes tells a great story of relationships with a story that has you rooting for them with every page.

Book Summary

Noah Winters, Duke of Anselm, exercises the pragmatism for which he's infamous when his preferred choice of bride cries off, and her companion, Lady Thea Collins, becomes his next choice for his duchess. Lady Thea's mature, sensible and even rather attractive-what could possibly go wrong?

As a lady fallen on hard times, Thea doesn't expect tender sentiments from His Grace, but she does wish Noah had courted her trust, lest her past turn their hastily arranged marriage into a life of shared regrets. Is His Grace courting a convenient wife, or a beautiful disaster?