They say reformed rakes make the best husbands... Lady Verity wants nothing more than to provide a safe home for her sister, whose simple-mindedness is often misunderstood. When Lady Verity's father and husband both die, passing their house to a stranger, she vows to do whatever she must to ensure her sister's safety. The new earl has a reputation for being a rake, and Lady Verity is prepared to make him an offer he cannot refuse. Daniel Palmer has run from his past for years, hiding from his failures and inadequacies by burying himself in cards, drink, and women. When a distant cousin and his heir both die, leaving Daniel with a title, house, and responsibilities he does not want, Daniel's impulse is to run. But his mother has different plans, and she invites the previous earl's widow and her two daughters to Arden Castle so they can become acquainted on neutral territory. When the countess and her daughters arrive, Daniel quickly learns that Lady Verity is hiding something from him. But as he grows closer to the truth, he learns that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes the greatest sacrifices lead to the finest rewards.

A gothic castle, a noble curmudgeon, and a candid miss. After the tragic death of his sister, Arawn Beavin withdrew from all Society and vowed to stay cooped up in his family’s castle for the rest of his life. If only his mother were so accommodating. As their year of mourning comes to an end, his mother summons her favorite modiste to the castle. Little does Arawn know the upheaval that will come along in the form of the modiste’s daughter. She is irreverent and completely disrespectful of his title. Even though Marjorie Fitzroy descends from nobility, it doesn’t mean she has enjoyed the benefits. It’s her mother’s occupation that has granted them access to England’s many great houses. But it is Marjorie’s first time in a castle and she can hardly wait to explore its corridors and dungeons. It does have a dungeon, does it not? But her excitement is quickly dispelled. The castle is nothing like those she read about in her favorite gothic novels. Except, perhaps for the grumpy marquess that resides within. He does nothing but brood and scowl at everything she says and does. Indeed, she finds little to like about him, but plenty of difficulty in avoiding him. When Arwan discovers that his sister’s death may not have been an accident, he enlists Marjorie to help solve the mystery. But he soon discovers that the wall he has built around his heart may not be as strong as he believed. Is it possible that they may not only discover the culprit behind his sister’s murder, but also their true feelings for each other?

James Aldwick isn’t ready to settle down, but his father, Baron Retford, doesn’t give him a choice. The stigma of illegitimacy has haunted the baron his whole life, and it’s up to his son to reestablish their good name by marrying into a family with a perfect pedigree. A series of summer parties is the obvious course of action and the perfect opportunity to parade eligible ladies before the reluctant James. Jessica Westcote, the youngest daughter of an earl, has resisted marriage to every stuffy lord her parents present to her. She wants a love match, not a business alliance. Unfortunately, the only man to ever evoke more than a tepid response from her heart is Mr. Aldwick, and passionate fury isn’t the same thing as ardent love. When an invitation to Retford Castle’s long list of events arrives, Jessica surprises herself by accepting. James is just as surprised to see his childhood nemesis and neighbor as a frequent guest, but he is certain his former foe won’t lay down arms long enough for a truce, let alone a courtship. Battle lines are drawn, but it isn’t long before those lines begin to blur. Are they friends or foes? Enemies or allies? As the end of summer approaches and James must make his choice, can Jessica forget the past long enough to imagine a future with him? Enjoy the other books in the multi-author Castles & Courtship series, which can be read in any order: An Amiable Foe by Jennie Goutet To Know Miss May by Deborah M. Hathaway A Heart to Keep by Ashtyn Newbold A Noble Inheritance by Kasey Stockton The Rules of Matchmaking by Rebecca Connolly A Suitable Arrangement by Martha Keyes and a title to come from Mindy Burbidge Strunk