The Deception of a Wicked Duke

“You would risk a dukedom for a season in Mayfair, Miss Mercer?”

“I would risk everything, Your Grace. The question is, are you prepared to watch your precious reputation crumble to dust?”

When Adeline Mercer discovers the Duke of Rothbury’s secret half-brother, she sees a desperate chance to escape social exile. She demands sponsorship into the ton’s exclusive circles, using the boy’s existence as her only leverage against the most powerful man in England.

Crispin Valerius is the Ice Duke—a rigid arbiter of morality whose cold control hides a shattering vulnerability. Adeline is the Ambitious Outcast, an intelligent woman wielding a dangerous secret like a blade to carve her way back into society.

From the scent of sandalwood in a cramped carriage to heated glances in glittering ballrooms, their battle of wits ignites a forbidden fire. What began as a cold transaction dissolves into a shattering desire that neither can control.

“I intended to break you, Adeline, but I find I am the one coming apart at the seams.”

As the Season peaks, they must choose between the armor of their reputations and the raw truth of their hearts. Will they sacrifice their legacy for a love that was never part of the bargain?