She was just a bait, until he captured her heart.

Haunted by the memories of a failed courtship and a dark secret, Candice Aberford returns to London for another season. However, the shadows of the past still follow her in the face of the ruthless Norton Carlisle. While the other debutantes long for a love match and a prosperous future, Candice only wants to escape the evil man who holds her secret and the key to her freedom.

But her arrival is not the only one that has made the ton buzz—both in excitement and suspicion. After his brother’s tragic death, Jonathan Heathrow is thrust into his role and crushed by the weight of his new responsibilities.

Not only does he have to keep the estate afloat, but he also has a scandalous secret to keep… and raise!

Born out of wedlock and now an orphan in the care of her irresponsible uncle who is well out of his depth, 1-year-old Charlotte is a complication that Jonathan never expected from his honorable brother. To protect her and her legacy, he must leave his rakish ways behind and find a wife who can help him keep up a strong front.

When he meets Candice, he is instantly infatuated with her, and he thinks she might just be the savior he seeks, but fate has other plans, as Candice is only the bait to ensnare Jonathan in Carlisle’s evil schemes.

Can this beautiful enchantress break her shackles and find love in a heart that has been consumed by fear and misery? Or will this mysterious libertine’s secret be the final nail in the coffin of his reputation?