Order. Precision. Control.
Lord Henry Alistair, the new Earl of Blackwood, lives his life by a strict code of conduct. But when his impulsive late brother leaves behind a final, chaotic surprise, Henry finds his carefully curated world turned upside down. The surprise? A binding betrothal contract to a total stranger.
Miss Clara Bell is everything Henry despises: provincial, unfashionable, and irritatingly spirited. A vicar's daughter from the muddy corners of Northumberland, she is a weed in his pristine London garden. Bound by honor to marry her, Henry decides there is only one solution: he must transform her. He will take this country mouse and sculpt her into a perfect Duchess.
As he strips away her rough edges, he discovers a fire beneath that threatens to burn through his icy reserve. What begins as a lesson in propriety quickly descends into a lesson in passion. In the quiet corners of his estate, the stern Earl will teach his reluctant bride exactly what it means to belong to him. But when the lines between duty and desire blur, Henry must decide if he is the master of this arrangement, or if he has finally met his match.
