Deceived & Honoured

She wanted an earl; but her heart went rogue.

England, 1806: Derek McKnight, self-made man and newly minted Baron Ainsworth, has risen from humble beginnings as a farmer's son to the ranks of the nobility. Awarded a dilapidated barony for his service to the crown, Derek is determined to shun the snobbery of London society and devote himself to revitalizing his estate and safeguarding the future of his family and tenants.

She had a list... Lady Madeline, a beauty with brains and a hefty dose of ambition, has vowed to marry nothing less than an earl. With her sharp wit and indomitable spirit, she has dodged suitors and scandals with equal aplomb, maintaining her impeccable status in the ruthless marriage market of high society.

...he checked none of the boxes.

One fateful night, their paths cross disastrously. Derek spots Madeline, a raven-haired vision, on the arm of a man from his past, and in a misguided attempt to save her, he unwittingly binds their fates together. Caught in a compromising position, Madeline finds herself wed to the very antithesis of her marital aspirations: a baron with calloused hands and a heart too big for his title.

Perfect match!

As they embark on their unexpected life together, Madeline's disdain for her "low-born" husband begins to waver under the weight of his unwavering determination and the unexpected allure of those penetrating dark eyes. His rough hands may tell tales of labor, but their touch ignites a passion in her that silk-gloved noblemen could never evoke.

Caught between societal aspirations and the stirring of her heart, will Lady Madeline see past the title to the man who might just be her perfect match?

After all, love doesn't care about titles — especially when it's accidental.