WATTYS 2026 SHORTLIST She meant to trap one man. She ended up compromising another. After giving her heart to a man who never intended to marry her, Miss Alice Burton is done being made a fool of. If Fitzwilliam Montgomery won't honour his promises willingly, she'll make sure he has no choice. There's only one problem. Alice sneaks into the wrong bedchamber. Instead of her faithless former lover, she finds Adam Warble, the Marquess of Richmond. And by the time she realises her mistake, they've been discovered in a thoroughly compromising position. Marriage is inevitable. Adam is convinced Alice deliberately trapped a future duke. Alice is equally convinced he despises her. But beneath her new husband's cold reserve lies a desire he cannot hide forever... and secrets he is determined she will never uncover. Adam's solution is simple: marry Alice, save her reputation, and send her safely away before she discovers the truth about him. Alice has a rather different solution. She's staying.

The story is set in 1849, England. The Crown, that is forever threatened by a number of enemies has recruited several agents. What happens when two of these agents-one a proud Marquess and the other an even prouder Duchess are pitted against each other while also being forced to work together? Read "Devil in Duchess's clothing" to find out...