Lady Selena Brooks would much rather remain in the comforts of home during Christmastide. Why the blazes would anyone want to endure a house party for a whole fortnight? Especially one that has always been a wallflower? Society didn't care if she attended, and wouldn't notice her regardless. At least that was how it had been before. Before her cousin restored his finances and set funds aside for her dowry and that suddenly makes her more desirable. Well they could all jump back into the holes they crawled out of. She would never marry anyone that didn't truly appreciate her. Society's dictates had stolen her joy, and the peace of remaining home at Christmas. Selena will stop at nothing to remain unwed, and free from the grips of societal rules. The best revenge is living her life as she truly desires, and she will not let anyone, or more specifically, any man ruin her life.

Kingston Rowe, Duke of Castlebury hated society. He wouldn't even attend this house party if he didn't owe one of his friends a favor. He'd only been back in England, after a lengthy absence, for six months, and nothing in society had changed. They were all insufferable fools. One woman stands out amongst them all, and he is riveted with her. She does and says what she wants, but not in malice. She's kind to the servants and sneers at any gentleman that tries to charm her. He's intrigued, and tempted in ways he never has been before. But how does a duke catch the interest of a woman that doesn't want to be courted?