He’s a tradesman; she’s a marchioness. They have only one thing in common….

Having married once out of desperation, the Virgin Widow Lady Belden has no intention of giving up her independence… until her long-lost siblings arrive on her doorstep. By law their guardianship belongs to the power-hungry marquess of Belden, but Bell will defy law and society to keep her newly reunited family together.

Formidable in trade, unlucky in love, Lord Quentin Hoyt has eyed Lady Bell from afar-not just because she possesses the family fortune, but because she’s the most desirable woman he’s ever met. Now that the widowed Bell is ripe for seduction, the shrewd Scotsman is prepared to negotiate the business merger of his lifetime.

Who will be the victor when the imperial Lady Bell engages the clever Lord Quentin in a battle of wits over life, lust, and love?

Rice has crafted her novel with plenty of witty, engaging characters and a healthy dose of romance. Clever Bell is a splendid protagonist, and readers will cheer her efforts to get men to take her seriously and treat her as an equal. Publishers Weekly