After seeing so many men destroyed by passion, Demon Cynster vows never to become involved with a woman, but when Felicity Parteger begs him to help her friend out of trouble, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to her.

Althea and Gabriel played together as children on neighboring estates and she knows him very, very well. Aware that he can't resist a challenge, she conceals her identity behind a heavy black veil, pretending to be a mysterious, widowed countess. Intrigued, Gabriel agrees to help her, both because of her plea for help and because the beautiful mystery woman represents a personal challenge that he finds irresistible. Althea extracts a promise from...

Believing him dangerously close to bankruptcy, Amelia Cynster proposes marriage to a very drunk Lucien Ashford, and is confused and annoyed when instead of the quick wedding she had wanted, he insists on a full courtship.

Simon Frederick Cynster has a perfect life, yet there is something missing. His quest to find Miss Right surprisingly leads him to Portia Ashford. As Simon and Portia begin to explore the depths of their mutual passion, a shocking murder is committed--and it appears that the next victim will be Portia herself.

Artist Gerrard Debbington accepts a commission to paint a young woman's portrait in exchange for access to her father's celebrated yet strictly private gardens, but when he learns the woman may be in danger, he appoints himself her protector.

Charlie Morwellan, eighth earl of Meredith, admits it is time, with the "matchmakers perennially salivating," to shackle himself to a suitable, docile countess. But he swears he will never (as his father did, bringing the family to the brink of ruin) allow love to control him. He sets his sights on quiet Sarah Conningham, a childhood acquaintance, who has made up her mind, despite her family's protests, to settle only for a genuine love match. Charlie...

As the six Cynster families gather together for the holidays at snowbound Casphairn Manor in Scotland, Claire Meadows, widow and governess to Gabriel Cynster's daughter starts a relationship with tutor Daniel Crosbie.

On the hunt for new breeding stock for the Cynster racing stables, Prudence Cynster travels to Ireland's west coast to evaluate the horses of Deaglan Fitzgerald, Earl of Glengarah, but soon after meeting both Prudence and Deaglan find it hard to keep their minds on the business transaction at hand.