A devastated bride. A broken-hearted groom. A marriage of convenience that changes everything.

When the Duke of Harbury swept sweet, mild-mannered Cassandra Wainwright into a scandalous waltz at Almack’s, he only wished to mask a much older heartbreak from the ton’s prying eyes. But his rash act didn’t just destroy Cassandra’s future, it threatened the security of her four orphaned sisters. Honor-bound, he accepts her proposed marriage of convenience, while internally vowing to protect his shattered heart.

Marriage’s stark intimacy strips away Cassie’s gentle façade, revealing a fiery soul neither she nor Harbury expected. At the same time, his small gestures of consideration and irresistible kisses reveal a devastatingly captivating man beneath his reserved exterior. And so, Cassie finds herself trapped between her newly awakened fury and her deepening desire as estate troubles mount, unearthing secrets that threaten their tentative bond.

Now, to save all they hold dear, Harbury and Cassandra must decide how much of their guarded hearts they are willing to risk.

Tropes you’ll enjoy:

• Marriage of Convenience
• Ruined by Compromise / Forced Marriage
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Guarded Hearts / Emotional Wounds
• Hidden Fiery Heroine
• Honor-Bound Duke / Protective Hero
• Growing Into Love After Marriage