Lady Rose's Secret

Marriage was not the intended outcome when loyal and determined Miss Rose Chesterfield made a wager with London's most eligible rake not to call in a debt that would ruin her family.Ashley Delacroix, Viscount Rampton is practised at resisting the lures of scheming debutantes to get him to the altar, which is why he only consorts with beautiful widows and willing matrons.When irresistible Lady Chesterfield indicates she's prepared to barter her wares for the short time she's in England in return for not calling in a ticklish debt, Rampton eagerly sets up the perfect seduction.But Lady Chesterfield is not what she seems and Rampton's anger at being honour-bound to offer her matrimony is equalled only by his anger at the lengths to which Miss Chesterfield will go not to marry him.Rose, now married to the man who's enthralled her from the moment she arrived in London, is determined to prove her worth to her new husband.But her beautiful, scheming sister-in-law Helena – the real Lady Chesterfield – is furious that Rose has ruined her plans for happiness a second time.She's intent on orchestrating the perfect poetic justice she believes Rose deserves.And a husband full of mistrust with a penchant for beautiful matrons is just the tool for revenge she needs.Previously published as A Little Deception and shortlisted for an Australian Romance Readers' Award