She probably shouldn't have married him... Annis's life as daughter of the Rectory was a busy and happy one, certainly not lacking in love—but she loved Jake Royle even more than she loved her family. So when he proposed to her she didn't hesitate, even though she knew he didn't love her. Jake had said from the start that he didn't think love was necessary to make a marriage work. But even if she could accept his lack of feeling for her, would Jake ever admit Annis into his life?

Polly Talbot is well educated but rather plain compared to her twin sisters. She works for Sir Ronald, typing up his manuscript on Greek and Roman history. Sam Gervis takes on the project after Ronald’s death, and Polly moves into his home he can oversee her work. While living there, she realizes there’s more to life than her rural lifestyle and decides to become a nurse. It will get her away from Sam, as well, who is very severe with her and would never be interested in a plain girl like her when he’s engaged to a beauty like Deirdre. They can’t get away from each other so easily, however, as Sam works as a doctor in the same hospital.

A red thread links the fate of two people together. Julia lost her parents and lives a hard life taking care of her two older sisters. Her sisters will be getting married and leaving home soon, but who is she going to marry? At a party, Julia is approached by Professor Gerard, a Dutch aristocrat and the head of the medical world. His impression of her is terrible when she teases him about the dress he made by tailoring the curtains.She never wants to see him again. But it's also the professor who gives her a hand when she loses her job and her house. Is he a tease, or is he kind?

After an accident, Lawrence, a Dutch citizen, is sent to the hospital in London where Serena works. He begins his courtship of her on his first day of hospitalization, but she’s reluctant to trust him completely and relies on Lawrence’s cousin, Gijs, for advice. Gijs’s presence is comforting, but Serena tries to squelch any romantic feelings she has for him. When she flies to Holland to marry Lawrence, he betrays her. And Gijs steps in to take care of Serena in her moment of need…

When Dr. George Pritchard asked Phoebe to marry him, she hadn't needed much persuading. The recent death of her aunt had left her penniless and without a job. Besides, she did like him. So what if he'd made it plain that he wasn't in love with her—at least she knew where she stood. It wasn't until after the wedding that she began to wonder if liking was going to be enough….

It was more than a family matter Dr. Duert ter Brandt disapproved of Christina’s relationship with his brother, Adam, and he made sure they both knew it. True, he didn’t stop Chrissy from coming to Holland to work near Adam. Still, he made it clear that her infatuation was not in the best interest of his hospital. But maybe he had other—hidden—reasons for hoping that Chrissy would give up her notion of love at first sight….

Agreeing to share her life with Professor van der Brink-Shaaksma had seemed a good idea to Beatrice at the time. But while fine in theory, the "no strings attached" deal soon proved to be disastrous. For how could it work when every time she saw him, her heart skipped a beat? And what could she do now to make him notice her--not just as his wife but as his partner?

Arabella recently lost her parents in an accident. Now she lives in a London basement and works in a hospital as a custodian. At first her employer, Dr. Titus Tavener, ridicules her; however, as Arabella excels at her work and brightens up the hospital with her charm, Titus can’t help but look at her differently. Upon learning of her tragic past and former nobility, he decides to come to her aid by proposing to her.?But Arabella resists?she won’t have anything to do with his pity…or a loveless marriage!

Clotilde Collins has worked with Dr. James Thackery at busy St. Alma's Hospital in London for three years, but she's never considered their relationship as anything more than solidly professional. Then tragedy strikes and James steps in to take charge of Clotilde's shattered world, offering her his unhesitating comfort and support. How easy it would be to fall in love with him. Except he's already committed to another woman….