Derek Egan knows the clock is ticking on his deadline, but none of the debutantes catch his interest in the slightest. Returning to his Essex home for a reprieve, he catches someone digging on his property. What he finds is a woman frantic with fever and desperation. Hiding his identity, he nurses her back to health while hiding his true identity.

Catherine McCabe is running from the aristocracy after a betrothal she cannot abide. She isn’t happy to find herself caught on the land of another aristocrat, but when she meets who she thinks is the property manager she decides spending a little more time in residence might help her find what she is looking for.

As their time together continues, Derek and Catherine begin a whirlwind romance. But despite the feelings growing between them, Derek continues to hide his identity: a secret that could backfire at any time.

This was a fun, light read with fun details and moments throughout. Catherine was a spitfire, with a backbone lacking many of her fellow ladies. She has definite feelings about titles and the privilege that comes with them, and is determined to keep away from anyone with a title.

Derek eschews many of the weights that typically come with the title he carries. But as the deadline for his marriage approaches he must consider whether it is worth bending his own ideals to keep the title or if he should let it go to his uncle as will happen if he isn’t married. He has his own brand of rebellion towards the institutions he is supposed to uphold, but he is a fair landlord whose people adore him.

I enjoyed every moment in this story. While aspects were on the predictable side, I enjoyed the change of pace that came with the story. I also enjoyed the addition of another young couple finding a surprising match within the pages and look forward to more from this series.
 

I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.