Can there be any greater challenge to London's Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?--Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1813By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend's sister--the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf--Daphne Bridgerton.
But the two of them know the truth--it's all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers.
And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.
But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it's hard to remember that their courtship is a sham.
Maybe it's his devilish smile, certainly it's the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her .
but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke .
for real And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.
