In two classic tales of Regency-era romance from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh, the vagaries of love have a way of challenging the most convenient arrangements. THE TEMPORARY WIFE Miss Charity Duncan has no illusions about Lord Anthony Earheart’s proposal. The arrogant aristocrat has made it painfully clear what he wants: a wife who will enrage the father he despises and then disappear from his life. In exchange, Charity’s family will receive the money they desperately need. But after Charity agrees to this mockery of matrimony, she soon discovers a startling fact: She has fallen for Anthony, and breaking their marriage vows may also break her heart. A PROMISE OF SPRING Grace Howard has every reason to be devoted to Sir Peregrine Lampman. After all, the gallant gentleman rescued her from poverty by making her his bride. Even more nobly, he did not withdraw his affection after she confessed to a youthful folly that had compromised her virtue. But Grace did not tell the whole truth about the handsome lord who betrayed her—and now the one thing she’s kept from Perry threatens to destroy her last chance at true love.

Raymond Roger Kane is the king of New Redlands – one of five kingdoms in Vorhaven, ruled by five different kings. When the king of another land, Tayyab Khurrabh, takes offense to a particular sighting of Raymond’s dragon, he does the unthinkable and attacks Raymond in a fit of rage. Parallel to this, in New Redlands, wedding bells ring as the princess of New Redlands gets a proposal from another kingdom – Pagria’s Deary, to keep an old promise. Raymond finally agrees to the wedding, but the groom’s family have a dark agenda of their own that could result in the death of thousands. The days and nights keep turning and brings with it surprises for Raymond and company as they ultimately have to fight to stay alive. When the dust settles, Raymond is forced to become a part of a dark and vile promise.

48