Miss Isabelle Stamford needs to escape the Ton. She’d never wanted to be part of high society to begin with and it certainly wasn’t worth dying for. Viciously attacked by Miss Weddington and left for dead, Isabelle knows that Charlotte, Lady Bruxton was behind it all because she fears that Isabelle will expose a very ugly secret. But Isabelle is informed that leaving the marriage mart is unheard of—at least until one has managed to snag a husband. With her choices limited to death or marriage, Isabelle sets her sights on the very man who rescued her from drowning—James Fitzsimmons, Lord Kenworth.

James isn’t precisely hunting for a fortune. But it certainly wouldn’t be remiss of him to find one. With estates that are failing and a family that excels at being helpless, Miss Stamford’s rather bold proposal isn’t one he can afford to simply walk away from. It doesn’t matter that he vowed never to fall in love. It doesn’t matter that just looking at her makes his palms sweat. It certainly doesn’t matter that all he wants to do is protect her, to keep her safe—and to kiss her senseless. He convinces himself that he can marry a woman who makes his blood sing and somehow keep both heart and soul intact.

With her life and his estates on the line, they make for Gretna Green and set the tongues of every London gossip wagging. But out of sight is not out of mind for Lady Bruxton. Her social cachet is not something she will risk, and whether she is in London or not, Isabelle knows too much to be permitted to live and with Miss Weddington locked away, Charlotte will have to take matters into her own hands…

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