Wine, women, song, adventure, even scandal. Lord Chester pursued them all—and used the chase to outrun the pain in his past. But when his carousing endangers a young boy, he wonders if he must reevaluate his choices.

The pain of Miss Julia Deering's past keeps turning up in her present. She's settled and content, now, though, as a lady's companion, until the dowager countess's notorious grandson arrives.

They are charged with bringing Christmas alive for the boy, the dowager and a quiet house, but they'll uncover some truths about themselves along the way. Will the magic of the season convince them to believe in themselves—and each other?