Selena Brooks would much prefer the comforts of home during Christmastide. Why the blazes would anyone want to endure a house party for a whole fortnight? Especially someone like her?a perpetual wallflower. Society had never cared about her presence, let alone noticed her. That is, until her cousin restored the family's finances and set aside a substantial dowry for her. Suddenly, she was deemed "desirable."

Well, they could all return to whatever holes they had crawled out of. Selena had no intention of marrying anyone who valued her for her dowry alone. Society's dictates had already stolen enough from her, including the peace of a quiet Christmastide. But she would not bow to their expectations. The best revenge was living freely on her own terms, and she wouldn't allow anyone?least of all a man?to dictate her future.

Kingston Rowe, Duke of Castlebury, wouldn't have attended this house party at all if he didn't owe a favor to a close friend. House parties had never appealed to him and the ton had proven as tiresome as ever. They all were a collection of posturing and pretentious fools.

But then he noticed her?Lady Selena Brooks. Among the insipid guests, she was a revelation. She said and did as she pleased with her sharp tongue she put them all in their places?including him. She was unlike any woman he had ever encountered, and she tempted him in ways he hadn't anticipated. But how does a duke win the favor of a woman who wants nothing to do with courtship?or him?