Lady Julia Rosemont should be enjoying her first season among London's elite. However nothing could be further from the truth. Even though she's the sister to the Duke of Candlewood and has been schooled in all of the dictates of polite society, she's also slightly on the shelf and has lived a rather sheltered life at her family's country seat, Seldon Park, in Sussex. Then, of course, there is the small matter of her scars.
Garish and all-together too visible, the unusual pattern of scars has defined Julia's entire life, for she cannot remember a time when they were not a part of her. It seems as if they have always been present, the result of an animal attack when she was a child. Now a debutante in town, Julia is finding it difficult to navigate the ballrooms of London, where being different is greatly frowned upon. Thankfully, she has her best friend, Benjamin, to offer assistance on occasion. That she is also deeply in love with him, and has been for ages, is entirely beside the point and of no consequence.
Benjamin Sinclair, the Duke of Radcliffe, has known both Julia and her brother Nicholas since they were all children. There is nothing he wouldn't do to protect her. Except that the only reason she's having a season at all is because he insisted - secretly, of course. Her misery, therefore, is entirely his fault, and he will do anything he can to ease her pain. Even if that means becoming her escort for the remainder of the season. All he has to do is make certain that his heart does not become involved. For the last thing he wants to do is risk his long-standing friendship with Lady Julia.
However when someone threatens to expose long-kept secrets about both Julia and Benjamin, secrets that could plunge both of their families deep into scandal, both of them must decide whether or not to face their fears. Including how they feel about each other. Is love worth the risk? Can Julia finally catch the duke of her dreams? Or will Benjamin forever be just beyond her reach?
This 59,000-word short novel is written in the modern, Regency romance style for a slightly hotter read. It may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
