Abigail Butters has a terrible secret: she has become a thief. Having been left destitute, she now faces an uncertain future with few chances of a happy ending. The family silver is merely a way to ease out her last days.

One hope sustains her, and that hope is small. An invitation to the most sought-after Christmas house party in all the South will give her a few weeks breathing room before she must embark upon her new reality. It also offers an introduction to Henry Pettigrew, a bachelor in search of a bride. Pettigrew Hall could offer her a future... in someone's dreams. Abigail is too intelligent to believe her luck will change.

Henry Pettigrew has decided to take a wife, and with his mother's help, to choose from America's finest daughters. All he asks is that she be of reasonable intellect and old enough to be sensible... someone scholarly and in her mid-twenties, for example. Yet, out of all the females presented to him during the Christmas season, only one interests him: Abigail Butters. She has his mother's support, but her history is a mystery. Plus, there is something simply off about her. Never one to shy away from putting answers to his questions, he's still a little surprised when intrigue leads to something more lasting.

In this clean historical romance set in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, circa 1875, a mother certainly knows what is best for her son. It only remains for him to acknowledge it.

In a glittering Season of Invitations, society's most sought-after house parties open their doors to dukes, debutantes, and dangerous secrets. From elegant estates to intimate country gatherings, each invitation promises scandal, temptation, and unexpected romance, with stories ranging from clean to gently steamy, where whispered wagers, hidden pasts, and carefully arranged matches may lead not to ruin, but to love.