Sarah Wellingford would Do Her Duty—even if that meant putting herself on the Marriage Mart during a London season she could ill afford. Now ironic circumstance had wed her to the compelling Marquess of Englemere, a fabled gamester, who had awakened passions she was honor-bound not to express. A marriage of convenience could be deucedly inconvenient—even for a marquess—when one was perilously close to loving his own wife! But that was impossible, Nicholas Stanhope knew, for hadn't his tragic past proven that women—especially wives—were not to be trusted?

A thrifty, industrious, wholesome bride is what he needed. Certainly not an exotic aristocrat like Clarissa Beaumont, who set trends and dazzled suitors with equal passion. A more unsuitable wife St. John Sandiford found impossible to imagine! Why then couldn't he get Clarissa out of his mind—or his heart? Though Sinjin Sandiford was rightly called "hero," he could sometimes fall short of "gentleman," Lady Beaumont fumed. Why, the cad had refused her help in making an advantageous match—yet still he managed to stir the most unseemly feelings within her....

Hal Waterman's calling on the newly widowed Elizabeth Lowery is the caring act of a gentleman. And with her household in turmoil and a young son to support, she is certainly grateful for his help. Hal finds Elizabeth even more lovely than when they first met, but knows that she will only ever see him as a kind and often taciturn friend. Elizabeth finds comfort and companionship in Hal's caring of her. But then a tantalizing desire starts to simmer. His reassuring strength and presence have become so very attractive...so alluring...

Destitute governess Joanna Merrill faints on Sir Edward Greaves' threshold. Chivalry demands Ned offer temporary shelter, her large, troubled eyes and slender frame in his arms wakes something ungentlemanly inside this guarded man. Ned purposely shunned conniving beauties of London society. How much does he risk with intriguing Joanna under his roof?

Wounded in action courageously fighting pirates, the notorious Greville Anders returns to society with neither the dress nor conduct considered proper for a gentleman. Even more scandalous is that well-brought-up debutante Amanda Neville finds this rogue irresistibly tempting.... It was her mama's last wish that her beautiful daughter have a glittering London Season, shine on society's stage and marry a lord. But now Amanda's greatest desire is just one more secret rendezvous—with the most disreputable man in town!