New Releases by Eloisa James

Lady B may have married Bluebeard; she may have fallen in love with a gorgeous, grumpy solicitor; she may have met a ghost and survived to tell the tale! New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Eloisa James delights with witty historical romance with a gothic twist. In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband’s three previous wives), but didn’t expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she’s never had. And she certainly didn’t imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband. Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie’s world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust. When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby’s past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry…though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit. More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false, whose vows are dishonorable, whose truths could destroy her reputation—and where her heart belongs.

Celebrate Jane Austen’s classic novels with this short story anthology starring forgotten characters as they experience their own happy endings. In honor of her 250th birthday, eight authors have come together with wildly imaginative reboots of the lives of several of Jane Austen’s minor characters. Written with plenty of love and wit, these clever stories star everyone from Pride and Prejudice’s snobbish Caroline Bingley to the modern descendant of Sense and Sensibility’s Eliza Williams and much more. Blurring genres and taking us across the oceans, Ladies in Waiting is a heartfelt celebration of Jane Austen and her timeless masterpieces.

Two eccentric orphans bring together a grumpy viscount and the free-spirited heroine who steals his heart in the first novel in Eloisa James’s new Accidental Brides series, in which haughty aristocrats find themselves married to the wrong women. He wants a nanny, not a bride… Suddenly guardian to twins, Viscount Dominic Kelbourne is luckily betrothed to a suitable lady—until she elopes. With no time to woo, Dominic decides to marry his fiancée’s unconventional sister. Torie isn’t perfect, but their kisses are so passionate that society thinks he’s actually chosen her. She wants to marry for love… Torie has never been able to make sense of words on a page, so she has turned her talents to art. She longs for a man who values her as she is… but marries for the sake of the twins. She doubts Dominic is capable of love, let alone respect, but as their heated debates turn into something more, Torie begins to imagine a life as a wife, not a nanny. But when the arrogant viscount finds that his viscountess has stolen his heart, he’ll have to give all he has to win her love.

Comme chaque année, Greystoke Manor accueille la Féerie de Noël où se presse le Tout-Londres pendant deux semaines. Bals, banquets, spectacles éblouissants... Un véritable enchantement pour tous ! Enfin, presque... Cressida est celle qui, depuis dix ans, orchestre dans l’ombre cet événement exceptionnel. Ce qui la condamne à rester vieille fille. Lady Isabelle tombe nez à nez avec son ex-fiancé... Bien que séparés, Caroline et son époux doivent faire semblant d’être fous amoureux... Quant à Louisa, elle n’a que quelques jours pour trouver un beau parti. Mais sous le gui se produisent bien des miracles. Que la fête commence !

De oudste zus zijn is niet gemakkelijk en daar weet Teresa Essex alles van. Na de dood van haar vader blijkt het gehele familiefortuin te zijn vergokt. Teresa en haar drie jongere zusjes, Imogen, Annabel en Josephine, komen onder gezag te staan van de Engelse hertog van Holbrook. Hij is vriendelijk, maar weet zich totaal geen raad met de meisjes. Teresa voelt zich als oudste zus geroepen om zo snel mogelijk te trouwen om zo haar zusjes te kunnen helpen. Maar welke man zal ze kiezen? De Engelse Garett Langham is een zeer degelijke kandidaat. Maar waarom kan Teresa de knappe maar beschadigde Lucius Felton dan niet uit haar hoofd zetten? ‘Haar Schotse hart’ (2004) is het eerste boek in de Essex zussen-serie van Eloisa James. Een verhaal vol romantiek en met een tikkeltje humor. Eloisa James is het pseudoniem van de Amerikaanse schrijfster Mary Bly. De schrijfster maakte haar debuut in 1999 met ''Geur van de nacht'', het eerste deel uit de ''Eindeloos genot-trilogie''. Haar romantische verhalen spelen zich voornamelijk af in de Georgische periode (1740-1837). James haalt haar inspiratie voornamelijk uit het werk van Shakespeare en poëzie uit de zestiende eeuw.

Für alle Bridgerton-Fans - Regency-Romance zum Dahinschmelzen! Lady Henrietta kann keine Kinder bekommen und darf deshalb auch nicht auf einen Ehemann hoffen. Sie glaubt, sich mit ihrem einsamen Leben auf dem Land abgefunden zu haben - bis der attraktive Lord Simon Darby auftaucht und ihr Herz in Aufruhr versetzt. In einem leidenschaftlichen Liebesbrief, der nur für ihre Augen bestimmt ist, schreibt sie ihre Sehnsüchte nieder - doch der Brief gerät in Umlauf, und Simon und Henrietta finden sich inmitten eines Skandals wieder, aus dem es für sie nur einen Ausweg gibt: Sie müssen heiraten ... Band 2 des Duchess-Quartetts

Niets is verleidelijker dan verleid worden... Charlotte Daichest staat op het punt om haar debuut te maken in de bruisende high society van Londen. Maar alles verandert wanneer zij zich laat verleiden door een knappe vreemdeling op een gemaskerd bal. Een lichtzinnige daad waar niemand ooit van mag weten. Jaren gaan voorbij totdat Charlotte de vreemdeling plots weer tegen komt. Hoewel zij hem nooit vergeten is, lijkt hij haar niet eens te herkennen. Bovendien blijkt deze vreemdeling geen gewone lakei, maar een rijke graaf met een twijfelachtige reputatie. Fans van Julia Quinn en Diana Gabaldon zullen ook zeker van dit verhaal kunnen genieten. Eloisa James is het pseudoniem van de Amerikaanse schrijfster Mary Bly. De schrijfster maakte haar debuut in 1999 met ''Geur van de nacht'', het eerste deel uit de ''Eindeloos genot-trilogie''. Haar romantische verhalen spelen zich voornamelijk af in de Georgische periode (1740-1837). James haalt haar inspiratie voornamelijk uit het werk van Shakespeare en poëzie uit de zestiende eeuw.

From New York Times bestseller Eloisa James, a new Regency-set novel in which a heiress with the goal of being a wallflower engages a rugged American in a scorchingly sensual, witty wager that tests whether clothing does indeed make the man—or the wallflower! A perfect companion story to Eloisa''s My American Duchess. Miss Cleopatra Lewis is about to be launched in society by her aristocratic grandfather. But since she has no intention of marrying, she visits a costume emporium specifically to order unflattering dresses guaranteed to put off any prospective suitors. Powerful and charismatic Jacob Astor Addison is in London, acquiring businesses to add to his theatrical holdings in America—as well as buying an emerald for a young lady back in Boston. He’s furious when a she-devil masquerading as an English lady steals Quimby’s Costume Emporium from under his nose. Jake strikes a devil’s bargain, offering to design her “wallflower wardrobe” and giving Cleo the chance to design his. Cleo can’t resist the fun of clothing the rough-hewn American in feathers and flowers. And somehow in the middle of their lively competition, Jake becomes her closest friend. It isn’t until Cleo becomes the toast of all society that Jake realizes she’s stolen his fiercely guarded heart. But unlike the noblemen at her feet, he doesn’t belong in her refined and cultured world. Caught between the demands of honor and desire, Jake would give up everything to be with the woman he loves—if she’ll have him! Cleo''s unconventional background and Jake''s American roots cause a stir in the rigid social hierarchy of Regency England.

Romantický příběh odehrávající se v Anglii na sklonku 18. století. Hlavní hrdinka si je dobře vědoma toho, jak okouzlit společnost i pány, přesto je rozhodnuta nenechat se spoutat sňatkem. První společenská sezona lady Betsy Wildové byla úspěšná: obdržela spoustu lichotivých nabídek k manželství, a o ruku ji požádal dokonce vévoda. Než se však Betsy Wildová provdá, touží zažít ještě aspoň jedno dobrodružství, neboť se jí zdá, že to k životu mladičké anglické šlechtičny nepochybně patří a že má na to nárok. S jejím skandálním plánem by pochopitelně při společenských rozhovorech nesouhlasil žádný gentleman. Lord Jeremy ovšem gentleman není a nabídne jí nejen sázku, ale i nevšední a hodně riskantní zábavu. Jestli vyhraje kulečníkovou partii ona, půjde v jeho doprovodu do společnosti oblečená ve skandálních pumpkách. Vyhraje-li on, lord Jeremy, Betsy s ním stráví vášnivou noc. Nakladatelská anotace. Kráceno.

Three bestselling authors. Two delightful novels. One terrific collection! From Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series, now streaming on Netflix—writing along with close friends and popular authors Eloisa James and Connie Brockway—comes THE LADIES MOST… a duo of cleverly crafted novels, The Lady Most Likely and The Lady Most Willing, together for the first time. THE LADY MOST LIKELY Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife, so his sister hands him a list of delectable damsels and promises to invite them—and a few other gentlemen—to her country house for what is sure to be the event of the season. Hugh will have time to woo whichever lady he most desires. Unless someone else snatches her first. The invitation list includes: The always outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton The impossibly beautiful (and painfully shy) Miss Gwendolyn Passmore The widowed Lady Georgina Sorrell (who has no plans to marry, ever) And your hostess, Lady Carolyn Finchley, an irrepressible matchmaker with romantic plans for every last one of them—especially THE LADY MOST LIKELY to marry an eligible Earl. THE LADY MOST WILLING Taran Ferguson, laird of his clan, is determined that his ancient (if not so honorable) birthright be secured before he dies. When both his nephews refuse to wed, he takes matters into his own hands, raiding an English lord’s Christmas ball and making off with four lovely potential brides (and one very irate duke). When his nephews, the Comte de Rocheforte and the Earl of Oakley, arrive for their annual holiday visit, they are drawn into a matchmaking party, of sorts. Among the unwitting guests are: Miss Fiona Chisholm, a beauty with a scandalous past Lady Cecily Tarleton, a lovely heiress—but she’s English Miss Catriona Burns, a lady with no name or fortune, so clearly someone made a mistake! As the snow piles up outside the highland castle, and the guests are forced to pass the time together, the initial dismay turns to unanticipated attractions and then irresistible passions – and indeed, there might be one LADY MOST WILLING to marry a Scottish lord.

Eloisa James returns to the Wildes of Lindow Castle series with the next Wilde child who runs and joins a theatre troupe -- and the duke who tries to save her reputation. He wants a prim and proper duchess, not the Wildest of the Wildes! Already notorious for the golden hair that proves her mother’s infidelity, Lady Joan can’t seem to avoid scandals, but her latest escapade may finally ruin her: she’s determined to perform the title role of a prince—in breeches, naturally. She has the perfect model for an aristocratic male in mind: Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, a man who scorned the very idea of marrying her. Not that Joan would want such a dubious honor, of course. For years, Thaddeus has avoided the one Wilde who shakes his composure, but he’s horrified when he grasps the danger Joan’s putting herself in. Staring into her defiant eyes, he makes the grim vow that he’ll keep her safe. He strikes a bargain: after one performance, the lady must return to her father’s castle and marry one of three gentlemen whom he deems acceptable. Not including him, of course.

Thorn Dautry memutuskan sudah waktunya ia memiliki istri. Tapi demi mendapatkan istri dari kalangan bangsawan ia membutuhkan rumah mewah dan berkelas yang akan membuat orang memaafkan statusnya sebagai anak tak sah seorang duke. Dan itu berarti dia membutuhkan bantuan Lady Xenobia India. India yang menawan, keras kepala, dan mandiri bertekad akan mewujudkan rumah impian Thorn dalam tiga minggu. Tapi baik India maupun Thorn tak mengantisipasi ketertarikan di antara mereka. Thorn menginginkan India, dan ia punya tiga minggu untuk meyakinkan wanita itu mereka ditakdirkan untuk bersama.

''Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than Eloisa James'' Julia Quinn The fifth book in New York Times bestselling Eloisa James''s new series, the Wildes of Lindow Castle, is perfect for fans of Julia Quinn''s Bridgertons and Eloisa''s Desperate Duchesses The Wildes of Lindow Castle series: Wilde in Love Too Wilde to Wed Born to Be Wilde Reluctantly a Lady Say No To The Duke Praise for Eloisa James: ''Eloisa James is extraordinary'' Lisa Kleypas ''Smart heroines, sensual heroes, witty repartee and a penchant for delicious romance have made James a fan favorite . . . readers will be hooked from beginning to end'' RT Book Reviews ''Romance writing does not get much better than this'' People ''Eloisa James writes with a captivating blend of charm, style, and grace that never fails to leave the reader sighing and smiling and falling in love'' Julia Quinn ''Charming, romantic and unexpectedly funny'' Kirkus.

Para Olivia Lytton, seu noivado com o duque de Canterwick é mais uma maldição do que uma felicidade para sempre. Pelo menos o título de nobreza dele ajudará sua irmã, Georgiana, a garantir o próprio noivado com carrancudo -- e lindo -- Quin, o duque de Sconce, um par perfeito para ela em todos os sentidos. Quer dizer, menos em um, porque ele está apaixonado por Olivia. A curvilínea, teimosa e inconformista irmã gêmea de sua noiva lhe desperta um desejo desconhecido. Mas Quin nunca coloca a paixão à frente da razão, e a razão lhe diz que Georgiana é sua noiva perfeita. Quando eles não conseguem resistir à paixão, correm o risco de colocar tudo a perder -- o noivado de Olivia, a amizade dela com a irmã e o próprio amor dos dois. Agora só há coisa coisa capaz de salvá-los, e ela espera no quarto, onde um magnífico colchão guarda respostas transformadoras ao enigma romântico de todos. No quinto livro da coleção Contos de Fadas, Eloisa James traz de volta uma pergunta antiga: será que a perfeição tem alguma coisa a ver com o amor? --

"Eloisa James é extraordinária." – Lisa Kleypas "Perspicaz e engraçada, esta releitura da clássica história da Rapunzel fará todas as mulheres desejarem ter uma torre a seu alcance." – Library Journal "Eloisa James escreve com uma cativante mistura de encanto, classe e graciosidade que nos faz suspirar, sorrir e nos apaixonar." – Julia Quinn Quando Gowan, o magnífico duque de Kinross, decide se casar, seu plano é escolher uma jovem adequada e negociar o noivado com o pai dela. Ao conhecer Edie no baile de apresentação dela à sociedade, ele acredita que, além de linda, ela também seja a dama serena que ele procura e imediatamente pede sua mão. Na verdade, o temperamento de Edie é o oposto da serenidade. No baile, ela estava com uma febre tão alta que mal falou e não conseguiu prestar atenção em nada, nem mesmo no famoso duque de Kinross. Ao saber que seu pai aceitou o pedido do duque, ela entra em pânico. E quando a noite de núpcias não é tudo o que podia ser... Mas a incapacidade de Edie de continuar escondendo seus sentimentos faz com que o casamento deles se desintegre e com que ela se recolha à torre do castelo, trancando Gowan do lado de fora. Agora o poderoso duque está diante do maior desafio de sua vida. Nem a ordem nem a razão funcionam com sua geniosa esposa. Como ele conseguirá convencê-la a lhe entregar as chaves não só da torre, mas também do próprio coração?

Duke of Trent yang arogan berniat menikahi wanita Inggris yang berasal dari keluarga terhormat. Wanita terakhir yang ia pertimbangkan sebagai calon istri adalah Merry Pelford yang petualang—ahli waris Amerika yang terkenal karena mencampakkan dua tunangan. Tapi setelah sebuah pertemuan dengan Merry yang menawan, Trent menginginkan wanita itu lebih daripada wanita mana pun yang pernah ia temui. Ia bertekad menjadikan Merry istrinya, tak peduli apa harga yang harus ia bayar. Dan Trent pria yang selalu mendapatkan keinginannya. Masalahnya, Merry sudah bertunangan, dan ia bertekad kali ini akan menjadi pertunangan terakhirnya. Ketika kehormatan berkonfl ik dengan ketertarikan, Trent menyadari taruhannya lebih besar daripada yang bisa ia bayangkan. Dalam perjuangannya untuk menyelamatkan Merry dan memenangkan hati wanita itu, satu hal menjadi jelas: segalanya adil dalam cinta dan perang.

The richest bachelor in England plays matchmaker…for an heiress he wants for himself! For beautiful, witty Lavinia Gray, there’s only one thing worse than having to ask the appalling Parth Sterling to marry her: being turned down by him. Now the richest bachelor in England, Parth is not about to marry a woman as reckless and fashion-obsessed as Lavinia; he’s chosen a far more suitable bride. But when he learns of Lavinia''s desperate circumstances, he offers to find her a husband. Even better, he’ll find her a prince. As usual, there’s no problem Parth can’t fix. But the more time he spends with the beguiling Lavinia, the more he finds himself wondering… Why does the woman who’s completely wrong feel so right in his arms?

No one is more surprised than Lord North when he returns from war to find his ex-fiancee in his ancestral home...working as a governess in a sexy, fiery new Wildes of Lindow Castle romance by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James... The handsome, rakish heir to a dukedom, Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde—known to his friends as North—left England two years ago, after being jilted by Miss Diana Belgrave. He returns from war to find that he’s notorious: polite society has ruled him “too wild to wed.” Diana never meant to tarnish North’s reputation, or his heart, but in her rush to save a helpless child, there was no time to consider the consequences of working as a governess in Lindow Castle. Now everyone has drawn the worst conclusions about the child’s father, and Diana is left with bittersweet regret. When North makes it clear that he still wants her for his own, scandal or no, Diana has to fight to keep from losing her heart to the man whom she still has no intention of marrying. Yet North is returning a hardened warrior—and this is one battle he’s determined to win. He wants Diana, and he’ll risk everything to call her his own.

Who Writes Cinderella Stories Better than Eloisa James? No Eloisa James fan should miss these enchanting short stories! A Midsummer Night’s Disgrace! u200bAfter Miss Cecilia Bu200bellingworth has endured two Seasons, she decides that she would rather ruin her reputation than endure further speculation about whether her children will be “silly,” like her brother, Billy.u200b u200bShe puts on a gorgeous gown and decides to flirt outrageouslyu200b with the first handsome servant she sees! Luckily, a gorgeous musician at the Duke of Ormond’s ball seems the perfect candidate to create a scandal… Don’t miss this charming version of Cinderella, previously published in the Essex Sisters Companion Guide. At Midnight u200bElias Hempleworth-Gray has only one thing only of value—his title, Earl of Leyton. Determined to leave England and the scandal of his gambler father behind, Elias hopes to turn around his fortunes and come back to claim the lady he loves, Miss Penelope White. But Penny has other plans for the man she has loved all her life...plans that include a masquerade, a stolen kiss and a lost shoe.

One of Cosmopolitan''s Best Books of 2017! Lord Alaric Wilde, son of the Duke of Lindow, is the most celebrated man in England, revered for his dangerous adventures and rakish good looks. Arriving home from years abroad, he has no idea of his own celebrity until his boat is met by mobs of screaming ladies. Alaric escapes to his father’s castle, but just as he grasps that he’s not only famous but notorious, he encounters the very private, very witty, Miss Willa Ffynche. Willa presents the façade of a serene young lady to the world. Her love of books and bawdy jokes is purely for the delight of her intimate friends. She wants nothing to do with a man whose private life is splashed over every newspaper. Alaric has never met a woman he wanted for his own . . . until he meets Willa. He’s never lost a battle. But a spirited woman like Willa isn’t going to make it easy. . . . The first book in Eloisa James’s dazzling new series set in the Georgian period glows with her trademark wit and sexy charm—and introduces a large, eccentric family. Readers will love the Wildes of Lindow Castle!

Le duc de Trent a trouvé la femme idéale : Merry Pelford, une héritière de Boston. Avec sa beauté exotique et sa franchise, elle est l''opposée de ces fades et fragiles Anglaises prisonnières du carcan de l''étiquette britannique. Merry est drôle, spontanée, sensuelle. Oui, parfaite, décidément. Sauf qu''elle vient de se fiancer à Cedric, le jumeau de Trent. Depuis l''enfance, les deux frères sont à couteaux tirés. Furieux, Trent jure que cette fois il ne se laissera pas damer le pion. Et le jour du mariage, il n''hésite pas à se substituer à son rival ! Reste à savoir si sa duchesse va goûter la plaisanterie...

Witty and elusive Eugenia Snowe has all society begging for one of her premiere governesses-except the powerful Edward Reeve, who bursts into her office with his arrogant demands. No question that Eugenia enjoys crossing wits with the brilliant inventor, but Ward wants far more than a governess. He wants Eugenia, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her-including kidnapping. Will Eugenia lose her heart in the most reckless gamble of her life, or will she discover the sweetest pleasure she’s ever known? All it will take is seven minutes...

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James delivers fascinating behind-the-scenes look in the Essex Sisters world, along with a brand-new short story in the series This is a book no Eloisa James fan should miss! Eloisa revisits the scintillating world of the Essex Sisters with “A Midsummer Night’s Disgrace,” a new story featuring a young lady, Cece, who would rather ruin her own reputation than endure further speculation about whether her children will be “silly,” like her brother, Billy. Happily for fans of Pleasure for Pleasure, Cece’s best friend is Josie, Countess of Mayne! Just as exciting, the Companion includes not only Eloisa’s original notes about each book and her “extra” chapters, but a 170-page alternate ending to Kiss Me, Annabel. Eloisa discarded this shockingly different plot after writing one draft, and the published novel went in an entirely new direction. Make up your own mind about which is better—Eloisa’s original, or the final book! Super fan Jody Gayle’s engaging guide includes essays about fascinating historical details, including period fashion designs. Explore the world of horse racing and tour the London theater scene. Delve into the rich history and deep literary tradition that makes Eloisa one of the top writers of historical romance. The Companion also gives you a sneak peek at Eloisa’s newest full-length novella, “A Gentleman Never Tells”—which springs from the world of the Essex Sisters! What will happen when one of the men who ruined an heiress’ debut by labeling her a “Wooly Breeder” (and Josie Essex a “Scottish Sausage”) decides that it’s time to make amends?

Bâtard du duc de Villiers, Tobias Dautry a grandi dans la rue. Devenu manufacturier, il souhaite épouser Laetitia Rainsford. Elle est peut-être bête, mais elle est si belle et si docile. En échange de son entregent, il lui apportera sa fortune. Après tout, le mariage est une transaction comme une autre. Toutefois, pour redorer son blason inexistant, il doit d’abord remettre en état son manoir. C’est ainsi qu’il fait appel aux talents de décoratrice de lady Xenobia India, une jeune personne très déterminée, qui a l’habitude de tout régenter à sa façon. Et forcément, leur collaboration va faire des étincelles...

A beautiful new standalone historical romance from New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James, a companion story to her latest romance, How to be a Wallflower! The arrogant Duke of Trent intends to marry a well-bred Englishwoman. The last woman he would ever consider marrying is the adventuresome Merry Pelford—an American heiress who has infamously jilted two fiancés. But after one provocative encounter with the captivating Merry, Trent desires her more than any woman he has ever met. He is determined to have her as his wife, no matter what it takes. And Trent is a man who always gets what he wants. The problem is, Merry is already betrothed, and the former runaway bride has vowed to make it all the way to the altar. As honor clashes with irresistible passion, Trent realizes the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined. In his battle to save Merry and win her heart, one thing becomes clear: All is fair in love and war.

Hugh Dunne, conte di Briarly, deve prendere moglie. Per aiutarlo, sua sorella Carolyn prepara una lista di appetibili candidate e le invita, insieme ad alcuni interessanti gentiluomini, a un ricevimento nella propria casa di campagna. In particolare, ci saranno la bellissima e timidissima Miss Gwendolyn Passmore, la schietta Miss Katherine Peyton, ma anche il famoso eroe di guerra capitano Neill Oakes, l''ambitissimo conte di Charters e naturalmente Cupido, che si divertirà a scombinare le carte in tavola. Cosicché l''esuberante padrona di casa avrà il suo bel daffare per trovare la donna più adatta a catturare il cuore indomito del fratello.

De son enfance désargentée, Annabelle Essex n’a gardé que de mauvais souvenirs, et elle est disposée à épouser n’importe quel aristocrate, pourvu qu’il soit riche. Quand elle croise le comte d’Ardmore, son cœur palpite. Il est très séduisant ce Highlander venu chercher à Londres l’héritière dont la dot lui permettra d’entretenir son domaine. Cependant, en raison de sa pauvreté, elle refuse de lui accorder sa main. Mais sa réputation compromise, Annabelle se retrouve en route pour l’Écosse en compagnie de celui qu’on considère comme son mari et qui n’a pas renoncé à se faire aimer d’elle...

— Vous êtes fou, père ! Theodora est comme ma soeur ! — Peu importe. Tu l’épouseras. Suite à de mauvais placements, le duc d’Ashbrook a « emprunté » sur la dot de sa filleule des fonds qu’il est incapable de rembourser. Il encourt la prison, à moins que son fils ne se dévoue pour épouser ce laideron. Afin d’éviter le scandale, James est bien obligé de se soumettre... et découvre chez sa jeune épouse une sensualité inattendue. Mais Theodora apprend les véritables raisons de leur union et le chasse du domaine.Sept ans plus tard, James revient et réalise avec stupeur que le vilain petit canard s''est transformé en cygne...