Miss Georgiana Darcy's first season was a resounding success, judging from the eleven marriage proposals she received—including one from the most sought-after bachelor in the kingdom. The Earl of Hampton is handsome and courtly and clearly in want of Miss Darcy's large dowry. Uniting herself with his lordship, she is sure, would please her dear brother. If only she could forget her lifelong love of Robert, Captain Farrington of his Majesty's Dragoons, currently in Spain.
Robert returns to England to seek his brother's permission to marry a Spanish noblewoman, but has to wait until his brother returns from the Continent. His oldest friend, Georgiana Darcy (whom he has always called George), won't hear of him being alone at his nearby Bodworth House when Pemberley is teeming with activity. Robert is immediately repulsed by Lord Hampton and knows the man's not worthy of George.
Will Robert realize what he feels for Georgiana is more than friendship? Will they be able to overcome well-intentioned meddling from those at Pemberley?
A former journalist and English teacher, Cheryl Bolen sold her first book to Harlequin Historical in 1997. That book, A Duke Deceived, was a finalist for the Holt Medallion for Best First Book, and it netted her the title Notable New Author. Since then she has published more than 20 books with Kensington/Zebra, Love Inspired Historical and was Montlake launch author for Kindle Serials. As an independent author, she has broken into the top 5 on the New York Times and top 20 on the USA Today best-seller lists.
Her 2005 book One Golden Ring won the Holt Medallion for Best Historical, and her 2011 gothic historical My Lord Wicked was awarded Best Historical in the International Digital Awards, the same year one of her Christmas novellas was chosen as Best Historical Novella by Hearts Through History. Her books have been finalists for other awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, and have been translated into eight languages.