She needs a champion. He needs one less complication. Neither expects love to be the answer.

Selena Lockhart has learned that Society offers little mercy. With no dowry and a tarnished family name—thanks to her father's ruinous gambling—she's had to learn to stand on her own. Although the last thing she needs is another haughty gentleman dismissing her before she can prove her worth, she has grown used to such treatment. So when her new neighbor, the brooding Sir Lucius Clavering, meets her with cool indifference, she isn't surprised.

Sir Lucius is already burdened by family obligations. As a baronet, he must maintain appearances, protect his wayward siblings, and endure the endless matchmaking schemes of London's elite. The last thing he wants is an extra demand on his time, especially from a woman whom Society has already cast aside.

But when Selena appears at his doorstep seeking help, Lucius soon discovers she is not what he assumed. And the more he tries to keep his distance, the more deeply he becomes entangled. With scandal looming and their slow-burning attraction igniting, Lucius must decide: will he continue avoiding complications, or risk everything for the one woman who defies his careful plans?

A captivating slow-burn Regency romance brimming with longing, wit, and a reluctant hero worth every risk.