After a broken romance leaves her reeling from rejection,
Hannah Leeds, the eldest daughter of a prosperous merchant,
accepts her father's proposal to marry a poor aristocrat.
It will aid her younger sisters and give her father further
business contacts. Any illusions of love she had are gone.
A marriage of convenience will give her children to love
and that will fulfill her. Lord Ian Sutcombe is agreeable
and accepts her reasons. A bargain is struck between them
without any false hope of what their marriage will entail.
Lord Ian Sutcombe's pride takes a terrible blow when it
becomes apparent that marriage to an heiress is the only
way to restore his bankrupt estate. His father's poor
choices and then his brother's illness have depleted all
funds. Pushed to the wall with his strangling obligations,
Ian accepts the generous bargain Mr. Leeds offers. He finds
Hannah to be shy and dutiful. He believes that once he's
repaired his holdings, Hannah will stay at the estate while
he returns to a life in London.
Their marriage begins with tentative steps and missteps as
they carve out their relationship. Hannah surprises Ian
with her wanting a voice in the decisions of their life.
Misunderstandings occur when they realize their marriage
bargain always colors their responses to one another. A
transformation takes place as they work through the
difficulties and friendship soon gives way to mutual
respect and love.
Ms. Layton's book is a wonderful conversation and
exploration about marriage. Readers are drawn into Ian and
Hannah's burgeoning relationship as they struggle to
connect with each other and sort through their issues. This
tale causes introspection and combines it with joy as Ian
and Hannah eventually find happiness with each other.
Unless he finds a
wealthy wife—and soon—Lord Ian Sutcombe will lose
everything. Left deeply in debt by his foolish father and
greedy stepmother, his only hope is to marry for money.
Stung by a suitor's cruel betrayal, Hannah Leeds,
daughter of a prosperous merchant, wasn't sure she'd ever
love again. So when her father arranges her betrothal to
the handsome lord, she agrees.
It was no more
than a marriage of convenience. They would honor and obey,
but never love . . . until a simmering passion exploded
into a sizzling affair. Now, with Hannah socializing with
members of the ton and another man out to win her
heart, Ian will do everything in his power to show Hannah
she is his ecstasy, his desire fulfilled . . . and oh so
much more than a bride for his convenience.
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