The Lady has an offer. The Vicar has a confession. The Game Warden has a secret.

When her late aunt leaves her a generous fortune, socially awkward Lady Madeline Blaire believes she’s finally found a way out of the high society husband hunt. There’s only one problem. To claim it, Madeline must marry by New Year’s Eve . . . which is now only 3 weeks away!

Determined to claim her financial freedom, Madeline slips away from her overbearing family and races off to Alcott Hall. Madeline needs a husband. Now. She’ll be generous, providing him with a comfortable living. She doesn’t even care if he takes other lovers. All he must do is agree never to claim his rights as her husband.

3 years ago, vicar Charles Bray left the town of Finchley and never looked back. When duty calls him home, he returns heavy hearted, desperate to avoid one man—John Warren, game warden of Alcott Hall. As Charles does his best to evade Warren’s snare, he starts an unlikely friendship with Lady Madeline, who soon makes him an offer too good to refuse. Charles and Madeline could have everything they want . . . if only Warren will stay out of way.

But Warren holds a secret that could up-end all their careful plans. Does Madeline want a comfortable life married to a kind vicar? Or will she dare to risk it all on the penniless warden? Perhaps there’s a third option none of them dreamed possible. An option where no one has to choose . . .