Her Christmas Duke by Arietta Richmond

A Duke who needs a wife, but hasn’t met a woman he likes; a Lady widowed and alone, with an increasing problem; a scheming relative, an envious young fool, lies, deception and manipulation, love found in a time of grief, a Christmas wedding.

Mrs Verity Millwood is recently widowed, and has just been dealt a shocking blow. After a miserable Christmas, she finds herself stranded in a small village, with limited funds, and nowhere to go. She is also, she suspects, faced with an increasing problem, even though she only had a few short weeks with her husband, before he went to war, and perished… When the kindness of strangers gives Verity somewhere to live, at least temporarily, she is somewhat relieved, but then, as she walks on the meadows, she comes across a man like no man she has met before.

Lord Daniel Trowbridge has been hounded by his father to marry – but no woman he has met is in the least appealing. Now, however, he has no choice, for his father’s passing has left him Duke of Summerfield. He spends his energies on caring for his estate, all the while worrying about how he might ever find a suitable woman. One afternoon, as Daniel seeks the peace of the meadows of his estate, he meets a woman more fascinating than any he has ever seen. Little does he know it at the time, but everything will change, from that moment on.

When an envious young man seeks to do Verity harm, and to blacken her reputation, Daniel sets out to protect her – but to do that, he must uncover her secrets, and unravel the lies of the past.

Will the malicious intent of others destroy Verity’s life, and leave her ruined forever, alone?
Can Daniel see past his hesitations about marriage, and seek to capture the heart of the woman he is coming to love?
And when the threats to her are made manifest, can he save her in time?
Will the coming Christmas bring joy? Or only more loss?