Marriage is a loveless trap, and David, Earl of Whitcomb, has no intention of falling into it again…until he has no choice.

When the Black Widow of Whitehall threatens his brother with prison if he can’t pay his exorbitant gambling debts, David must strike a bargain, and Mrs. Dove-Lyon knows exactly how he can pay. Clarissa, daughter of the Duke of Wellington, dreams of a love match, but her former fiance, Lord Effingham, is spreading vicious rumors that he has compromised her virtue, leaving her no choice but a swift marriage of convenience. She couldn’t be more delighted when Mrs. Dove-Lyon introduces her to her future husband–none other than her knight in shining armor, the reluctant Lord Whitcomb. He saved her in the past and now she’s determined to win him over with her relentless cheer. She tries to charm him, but he’s as skittish as a cat.

At first, the couple are chalk and cheese, and Clarissa almost gives up hope of winning him over. But then, Lord Effingham escalates his lies by claiming she’s carrying his child. David and Clarissa must expedite the timeline of their marriage. Little by little, Clarissa’s optimism cracks the stone shielding of David’s heart. But when threats by Effingham force them to wed sooner than they expect, they must risk their hearts for a chance at happiness.

It’s a gamble they’re willing to take.

Tropes You Love:
– Grumpy Sunshine
– Marriage of Convenience
– Forced Marriage
– Brooding, Widowed Hero
– Rumors and Scandal
– Race to the Altar
– Trust after Betrayal