Lydia Whittaker's horrid Uncle Henry has cast her, her widowed mother, and sisters out of their Yorkshire home. Now Lydia must not only hand over the estate she has thriftily managed for years, but also enter the marriage mart. This is far from her desire...until her heart is set a—flutter by the very first man she meets: Lieutenant Edward Whittaker.

One of the ton's wealthiest, most accomplished beauties, Lady Madelyn Rathbone has turned down dazzling proposal after proposal—all because she simply cannot forget country squire Robert Langtry. Though Robert's modest birthright precluded a union between them two years ago, Madelyn is quite certain that he has now settled down and is unavailable to cure her silly longings for good. But a Christmas journey gone much awry and Robert's four mischievous wards are proving more than a match for Madelyn's firm resolve—and her heart! Robert Langtry had convinced himself that his feelings for Lady Madelyn were youthful folly. But when they become stranded at his snow-bound estate amid one disaster after another, he is delighted to rediscover the vivacious, spirited woman he still loves—even though he knows he cannot let her surrender her life of glittering privilege just for him. Yet neither Madelyn nor Robert are aware that holiday magic is about to show them the sweetest joy of the season..

An Unwelcome Guest Lionel St. James' name was most definitely not on the guest list for the Blakelys' lavish Christmas Ball. But nonetheless, he arrives at their home that evening with one goal in mind: to catch one glimpse—just one!—of Miss Mary Ann Whittaker. For years ago, on a dark winter's night, the sight of her lovely face had warmed his cold heart—and inspired in him a generosity he never knew he possessed.... An Innocent Lady Lionel is delighted to see that the years have not dimmed Mary Ann's beauty—and that she is still as sweet and innocent as she was on that long-ago night. But even as they share a glance, then a dance, his heart begins to ache with regret. For time has not been nearly as kind to his own reputation—and his soul has grown darker with each passing day. He fears that if he courts Mary Ann, he will ruin her. All he wants this Christmas is to call her his own—and to be the man she deserves for every holiday to come...