To Have and to Hold

A lying wallflower. A desperate self-made man. And a marriage of convenience that was supposed to make their lives easier.

Matthew Bixby despises social politics. What good are manners and small talk when fighting to free himself from the slums and build a prosperous mill? But only a fool would ignore the fact that business is conducted in ballrooms and parlors as often as it is in offices. With the workers threatening to riot and his mill in danger, Matthew needs a wife who can help him navigate society without adding to his already massive burdens.

If only he had the time to find one.

A spinster knows better than to hope for more than a comfortable home, but a marriage of convenience to a stranger is another thing altogether. Especially when the groom sends his man of business to procure a bride because he cannot bother to do so himself. But only a fool would turn aside a good match—even if she doesn't meet his marital requirements.

Surely, overcoming her wallflower nature won't be difficult.

Marriage is supposed to mark the end of their troubles, but with lies and unrealistic expectations standing between them, Matthew and Charlotte discover that a happily ever after requires more than saying, "I do."