The holiday party was to celebrate her engagement to the earl. But she soon discovered the earl wasn't what he seemed.
At a house party to celebrate Christmas and her engagement to the Earl of Wainstalls, Lady Ruth Barnes finds her betrothed more interested in his chatelaine than in her. Forced to marry by her father, Ruth dreams of escape but duty demands she stays.
Graham Stephens, the illegitimate son of a marquess, loves his life of debauchery and plans to indulge himself at Wainstalls' party, until he recognizes the earl's fiancée as the younger sister of his old friends. Seeing how the lecherous Wainstalls looks at Ruth makes Graham's skin crawl, and he decides to pretend to seduce her so Wainstalls will break the engagement.
Yet his feigned seductions go witnessed by the other guests, so in effect, they never happened. The passion between them is intense, but Ruth's brothers would kill Graham if he truly seduced her. He should walk away before he ruins her for anyone else.

Ruth is ready to risk her future for one night with Graham, even knowing he's offering nothing more than his body. Then they're caught—and the earl sends her home. How will she face her family? And will Graham truly let her go?