As the youngest of Baron Ashby's all-female brood, Henrietta Ashby decides to marry Sebastian, Viscount Ravenswood. Never mind that he shows no interest other than brotherly, Henrietta always gets what she wants. When normal flirting does not produce results, she revises her strategy and approaches a notorious retired courtesan to teach her seduction techniques. Henrietta disregards her sisters' warnings that Sebastian is a wicked rogue and pursues him with single-minded determination. In her rosy vision, she romanticizes Sebastian and does not see the real man.

Sebastian, Viscount Ravenswood, swears never to marry. He loves his life of sin and wicked women and has no interest in reforming. When his brother married into the Ashby family, Sebastian noticed Henrietta's girlhood crush on him. After eight years of discouraging her and failing miserably, Sebastian decides to travel and return to the Ashbys only on special occasions. Surely, Henrietta will fall in love with a proper gentleman.

Returning at Christmas, Henrietta perplexes him. The mischievous young minx he knew is gone and in her place is a sensual woman with smoldering eyes that bewitch him. Henrietta's plan works like a charm until she finally sees Sebastian as a genuine man with flaws. Disillusioned, Henrietta denounces her love, but not before she's publicly compromised.

Ms. Benedict gives new life to a familiar tale with her excellent characters performing a sensual dance of seduction complete with witty dialogue and clever schemes that go awry. It's a difficult book to put down as the first half is Henrietta's ploy for catching Sebastian and the second half is Sebastian trying to win Henrietta's love.

Book Summary

Unwilling to taint any woman with the terrible secret hidden in his heart, Sebastian, Viscount Ravenswood, has sworn never to marry. Luckily, whimsical Henrietta Ashby was never much of a temptation for the devilishly handsome rogue—until now. Suddenly, Henrietta has learned to seduce him with a bewitching charm . . . and clandestine midnight kisses.

Henrietta would go to any lengths to catch the eye of the man she's long loved from afar—even seeking the help of the most notorious courtesan in England! But as Sebastian's secret follows them from the ballroom to the boudoir, and his diabolical enemy plots revenge, will Henrietta risk her life to offer him a passionate redemption . . . or will he prove to be too scandalous to wed?