A man of affairs

An unexpected love

At the age of twenty-six, Eden had resigned herself to a quiet, pleasant life on her parents' estate, working on her painting and gardening-and making sure that Zoe, her lovely, marriageable younger sister, remained well-behaved at society parties.

Then Seth, the adopted son of the Duke of Derwent, came to their home. His kind encouragement and searing glances brought new, unfamiliar joy to Eden 's heart. But the handsome man had a duty to his foster father that precluded all affections--and his uncertain station made him sure that a lady like Eden could never accept his love. When impulsive Zoe lost her heart to an unscrupulous man-and Eden and Seth struggled to save her-they realized that their love was too powerful to resist. And now that love faced the greatest challenge-to stand fast in the face of their families, and society....