Award of Merit winner, Novella category, 2013 HOLT Medallion contest

Abigail can't explain, even to herself, why she married Derek after he'd asked her to wait for him and then became engaged to someone else. If his poor fiancée had not died, he would now be wed to her instead of Abigail. But then Abigail begins uncovering some of the secrets that are a part of her husband's life and wonders if perhaps there is hope for their marriage after all.

Derek, Lord Westdale, wasn't sure why Abigail married him; she obviously despised him. On the other hand, he knew exactly why he was marrying her: she was the only woman he would ever love, despite his having offered marriage to another. Unfortunately, he can't seem to convince Abigail that he never really betrayed her after all.

Can their decoding of a secret Christmas cipher bring an end to their misunderstandings and help them create their own special Christmas tradition?