Cora by Carrie Lomax

She’s the illegitimate daughter of a duke; he’s the man who ruined her and now schemes to trap her in a marriage.
Cora has one question: Why?
After her only Season was ruined by a handsome stranger, Cora Wilder embraced the freedom that comes with being a confirmed spinster. But her enviable life comes to a crashing halt the day her brother loses everything in a bank run, and the only way she can save her family is to marry a man she loathes.
Gideon Wentworth may have gone too far, once upon a time. But he sees potential in Cora Wilder. She’s the kind of woman who could take the ton by storm…if she turned her attention to becoming a proper lady. Now that he has her in his bed, he’s determined to mold her into a wife he can be proud of.
Cora’s starchy, stoic husband is not what she expected. And if she’s going to be bound to him by vows, she will find a way to break through his rigid rules. She is surprised to discover the man has a heart…and winning it becomes her new challenge. But when a long-buried truth comes to light, will it ruin their newfound happiness for good?
Book 4 in the Virtue & Vice series can be read as a standalone. Set in Victorian London, the Virtue & Vice series is for readers who cried when Harlots was canceled, binged Bridgerton, and adored the adventures of Miss Scarlet and the Duke. Steamy historical romance with a dash of mystery and plenty of steam, this series is intended for a mature audience.