Fate has lavished beauty on the Merridew sisters—that is, all save the eldest. But plain Prudence bears no grudge; she loves her four beautiful sisters infinitely. So when their abusive grandfather is laid up with an injury, she seizes the opportunity to concoct an ingenious plan that will allow all five of them to escape the clutches of their legal guardian. All it will take is a little matrimonial deception...
A renowned rake, Gideon, Lord Carradice, has a way of making ladies swoon. But when Prudence arrives at his doorstep and mistakes him for his cousin, the Duke, it is Gideon who’s infatuated. The delightful spitfire claims she and the Duke are engaged—although a taller tale was never told. In spite of the lies, Gideon is so taken with charming Prudence that he’s eager to join her game, especially if it will award him a stolen kiss or two. Now, Prudence’s plot is about to go terribly, albeit deliciously, awry...
cw: forced miscarriage, physical abuse, child physical abuse, insinuation of past rape (of FMC, not by MMC)
“But you are a rake,” she whispered.
He gazed into her eyes for a long, long moment. “Yes. And when a rake finally falls, he falls forever.” He let her digest that for a moment and then added solemnly, “Besides, you should not scorn my rakishness. Having a rake about the place will come in extremely useful.”
She frowned in puzzlement. “Useful?” It was an odd word to use. “What do you mean? What possible use would I have for a rake?”
“I could tidy up all your fallen leaves each autumn.”
&
Otterbury deserved no consideration. Gideon could give her up to a more worthy man, perhaps.
Or perhaps not, he thought darkly. Definitely not! He wasn’t giving her up to anyone!
Prudence needed to be made happy. And Gideon needed to be the one who made her happy. He was the right man for the job. He was the only man for the job.
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