He’ll do anything for the woman he loves…except tell the truth.

Gabriella d’Aventure is a young woman on a mission. She has come to England as a lady’s maid in single-minded pursuit of the Duke of Rother. When she meets Horace Carpenter, valet to a marquess, she is delighted to enlist his aid in gaining her heart’s desire: a meeting with the duke. But will her growing feelings for the handsome valet interfere with her plans for Rother?

The eccentric Marquess of Halford, Hal to his friends, is fed up with the demands of Society, especially his father’s decree that he marry this Season. To that end, Hal hides out at Lady Hamilton’s ball, refusing to choose a bride. However, when a breathtaking young woman intrudes on his solitude, Hal is instantly captivated and rashly introduces himself as his valet and offers his help. Despite his growing fear about the true motive behind Gabriella’s quest to meet the duke, Hal devises a plain to her gain an audience with him, all the while praying his deception won’t ruin his chances of winning her love.

If the players are evenly matched, romance can be the most exciting game of all.

Over her parents' protests, Lady Augusta Hardy has set her matrimonial sights on a renowned adventurer. With him, she knows she'll live an extraordinary life. But as that gentleman is off exploring, she resigns herself to being courted while waiting for her hero to return. Would-be suitor Julius Price, Lord Boxted, is admittedly handsome, witty, an amazingly good dancer, and extremely well-traveled. In fact, he's a worthy rival for her affections, save for one major drawback: his title would ensure that Augusta ends up living the boring life she so detests. Despite her growing affection for him, she sadly relinquishes all thoughts of marrying Lord Boxted.

From the moment Lady Augusta beats him at chess, Julius is fascinated by the intelligent, strong-willed lady. During the Season, he takes heart as he makes inroads with her affections, determined to win her over. Elated when passion between them sparks, Julius plans to redouble his efforts, until an overheard conversation convinces him Lady Augusta would never be happy with the only life he can offer her.

Between love and hate there is a pencil-thin line to walk…

Miss Katherine Locke is irked to start her third Season dancing with the disagreeable Lord Haversham, her brother's friend and her own arch enemy. After a particularly odious run-in with the earl, Kate declares she hates everything about the man. When her brother challenges her to come up with even ten things she doesn't like about Haversham, a gleeful Kate is itching to put quill to paper to point out everything she finds wrong with the man. Unexpectedly, she finds the task harder than she thought because she keeps remembering things she secretly likes about the gentleman instead. Frustrated, Kate shoves the list in a drawer, determined to stop thinking about Haversham. But can she?

Marcus, Lord Haversham, is in a tight pinch. His estates are failing and, worse, he's just lost three thousand pounds to his best friend, Lord Ainsley. Ainsley's solution: have Marcus marry his shrewish sister, and he'll cancel his gambling debt plus give him ten thousand pounds for her dowry. With nowhere else to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him.

When Marcus discovers Kate's list however, he can't keep himself from trying to show her how wrong she is about him. But in the process, will he be able to avoid falling in love with the stubborn woman?