Orphaned at a young age, Eleanor wants nothing more than to settle in a home of her own. Stratford, having met once with betrayal, desires a woman who will be true. When a complicated inheritance forces them together, they little expect this to be the answer to their innermost desires. Eleanor Daventry has come into money, but the inheritance comes with a condition: she must marry to have it. Steadfast and independent, she would rather become a schoolmistress than take a husband she does not love. Stratford Tunstall has just discovered his predecessor willed the estate’s unentailed land to Miss Daventry. Although cynical regarding love, the man recognizes a practical solution when he sees one. He and Miss Daventry must marry, and Stratford wastes no time in pressing his suit—with disastrous results. In the face of such an insulting proposal, Eleanor flees to London where she lands unwittingly in the home of Stratford’s closest friends. Now thrown together constantly, Eleanor can't help admiring his masterful apologies, never mind how often he must deliver them. Stratford concedes that, against all his predictions, Eleanor enjoys success with the ton. How fortunate. Now, if only her suitors didn’t feel the need to apply to him for advice. When combined forces threaten Eleanor’s reputation, Stratford realizes it's more than her land he cares about. Somehow, he'll have to convince Eleanor that his coming to her rescue is a deed inspired by love.

She was born to lead London Society. He could not leave it fast enough. With a few well-placed words in the right ear, Anna Tunstall can direct anyone to do her bidding, exactly the skill needed for one destined to be the wife of a man in politics. A summer visit to a friend’s country estate is the perfect distraction before the London Season begins and Anna can achieve her ambition of a perfect match. Harry Aston has spurned the noble aspirations of his family to enter holy orders where he might make a difference in people’s lives. His mother’s untiring attempts to find him a wife worthy—and wealthy—enough to suit him only serve to set up his back. He has never been in love, and she should not think that suitable wives dropped down from heaven, especially not in the village of Avebury. When Harry finds Anna unconscious on the road, and she awakens in his arms, his world shifts at her gaze. But before he can think that heaven has come through at last, he must convince Anna that her prolonged stay in Avebury is not fate’s way of toying with her, but rather opening her eyes to a new direction for her ambitions—and her heart.

She has loved him for as long as she remembers. He is fast discovering his newfound attachment. And now they may never see each other again. Phoebe Tunstall has lived her entire life in the shadow of her outgoing twin sister and in service to her maiden aunt. When she suddenly finds herself alone and free of all responsibility to others, she decides to heed the challenge thrown out by the man she has long admired-her brother's best friend, Lord Ingram. Frederick Ingram is reeling from the shock of learning that his first love has married someone else upon mere weeks' acquaintance. Filled with frustration, he is unable to watch his friend's little sister, Phoebe, living meekly and waiting for happiness to come to her. He tells her to live more boldly. What he does not expect is for her to take it to heart and travel to Brussels as Napoleon begins his march northward. Frederick arrives in Brussels for his military duty and-contrary to his expectation-does not find Phoebe cowering in fear at the threat of the emperor's invasion. Instead, she appears to be the center of Society with every male eye in the city on her. Phoebe is eager to show Frederick exactly what he has been missing out on all these years, and he is finally ready to declare his love. Then war breaks out.