A man comes home to claim his title and falls for a scandalous lady in this "masterful" Victorian historical romance ( Romantic Times ). Tristan Townsend has come home to London to assume his duties as the Marquis of Lockwood after all the men in his family have died. Desperate to rid himself of the "Lockwood curse" and restore his family's honor, marriage is the furthest thing from Tristan's mind . . . until he lays eyes on an enchanting stranger and vows to make her his . . . Lady Simone Turnbridge—beautiful, bold, and with a scandalous past—is not eager to be some wealthy man's bride. Some men want her hand in marriage; others merely want her in their beds. She mocks them all with a twinkle in her eye, knowing not one of them can tame her . . . Tristan will do anything to have Simone in his bed and his ring on her finger. Simone, who has sworn to let no man control her, is held in thrall by her fascination with this forbidden Lockwood. But it's too late to walk away now—when the promise of passion is so wanton, wicked, and thoroughly wonderful . . . "Leslie LaFoy delivers wonderful, witty characters and breathless romance." —Celeste Bradley, *USA Today–*bestselling author "Leslie LaFoy is intelligent, sexy, fun." —Kasey Michaels, *New York Times–*bestselling author