Returning to the "wickedly witty, lusciously sensual" (Booklist) world of her beloved Malory family, #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey sweeps readers away on a seductive adventure in which a detested marriage contract turns childhood enemies into passionate lovers. Nine years ago, Richard Allen fled England and his controlling father. Determined to live his own life, he took to the sea and settled in the Caribbean, joining a band of treasure-hunting pirates and adopting the persona of a carefree, seductive Frenchman named Jean Paul to guard the secrets of his past. When he slips back into England to carry out an urgent task, Richard becomes infatuated with a married woman, Georgina Malory. But his reckless attempt to woo Georgina at a masked ball turns out to be the worst mistake of his life because it brings him face to face with another beautiful woman. Thrilled that her solicitors have finally come up with a way to free her from her betrothal contract to the Earl of Manford’s son who abandoned her years ago, heiress Julia Miller is ready for the marriage mart and hopes to find that perfect someone at her friend Georgina’s ball. Charmed by a masked Frenchman who gives her her first kiss, she can’t help but pursue this mysterious man—until she makes a shocking discovery. Now, to avoid falling into a ruthless nobleman’s trap, Julia must enter a risky, intimate charade with a man she never believed she could love. "There’s no better way to spend your time than with the Malorys—it’s like sailing off to heaven," raves Romantic Times . With a little help from the lucky-in-love Malory family, will Richard and Julia discover in each other that perfect someone? "The Malorys are the family everyone wishes they had, so returning to their world is like entering a bit of heaven. The way Lindsey expertly writes a seductive battle of wills loves story is magic; love, laughter, adventure and passion collide as childhood foes become lovers." -- Romantic Times Top Pick (4 1/2 stars) Johanna Lindsey has been hailed as one of the most popular authors of romantic fiction, with more than 60 million copies of her novels sold. World renowned for her novels of “first-rate romance” ( Daily News , New York), Lindsey is the author of nearly fifty previous national bestselling novels, many of which reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Lindsey lives in New Hampshire with her family. Chapter One IT MIGHT SEEM ODD to consider Hyde Park your own backyard, but Julia Miller did. Growing up in London, she’d ridden there almost daily for as long as she could remember, from her very first pony when she was a child to the thoroughbred mares that followed. People waved at her whether they knew her or not, simply because they were so used to seeing her there. The ton, shop clerks cutting across the park on their way to work, gardeners, they all noticed Julia and treated her like one of their own. Tall, blond-haired, and fashionably dressed, she always returned the smiles and waves. She was generally a friendly sort and people tended to respond to that in kind. Even more odd than Julia’s considering such a mammoth park her personal riding grounds were her circumstances. She’d grown up in the upper-crust end of town but her family wasn’t upper-crust at all. She lived in one of the larger town houses in Berkeley Square, because it wasn’t only the nobility who could afford those town houses. In fact, her family, who acquired their surname in the Middle Ages when a craftsman took on the name of his trade, had been among the first to buy and build in Berkeley Square back in the mid-1700s when the square was first laid out, so Millers had been living there for many generations now. Julia was well-known and well liked in the neighborhood. Her closest friend, Carol Roberts, was a daughter of the nobility, and other young women of the ton who knew her through Carol, or from the private finishing school she’d attended, liked her as well and invited her to their parties. They weren’t the least bit threatened by her pretty looks or deep pockets because she was already engaged to be married. She’d been engaged nearly since birth. “Fancy meeting you here,” a female voice said behind her. Carol Roberts rode up, and her mare fell into an easy trot beside Julia’s. Julia chuckled at her petite, black-haired friend. “That should have been my remark. You rarely ride anymore.” Carol sighed. “I know. Harry frowns on it, especially since we’re trying to have our first child. He doesn’t want me to take any chance of losing it before we even know it’s been conceived.” Julia knew that horseback riding could indeed cause miscarriages. “Then why are you taking that risk?” “Because a baby didn’t get conceived this month,” Carol said with a disappointed pursing of her lips. Julia nodded sympathetically. “Besides,” Carol added, “I have so missed our rides together, I’m willing to defy Harry for these few days