A Viscount’s Reluctant Passion by Arietta Richmond

A Viscount who avoids society, a young lady followed by rumours, a suitor with selfish intentions, scandal narrowly averted, a rescue, a passionate love.

Ignatius (Nash) Harringdon, Viscount Challoner, prefers the country to London, and poring over estate books to attending Balls. But when his brother’s oldest friend marries, he finds himself in London, helping to arrange the wedding festivities. And when he meets Miss Wormsley, his perception of society women is turned on its head. But that is not enough to make him forget the past, and the fact that love and passion only lead to pain. So… why is he staying in London, longer than he had planned?
Miss Beatrice Wormsley is glad that her sister has found happiness, and is marrying, but she begins to wonder if she will ever find love herself. For it is clear that the gossip that has followed her since childhood has found its way into the drawing rooms of the ton. As a result, she cannot expect any titled man to want her – but that does not stop her from foolishly hoping, building dreams on the fact that Lord Challoner actually talks to her, and treats her as intelligent.
But when circumstance takes Nash out of London, and Bea finds herself with a noble suitor, she must resign herself to the fact that dreams rarely come true. Or do they? Will Nash return in time to save Bea from a trap set to compromise her? Will they each find the courage to admit their feelings? Or will their sense of duty drive them apart?