A Faithful Proposal

Book excerpt: Anna Tunstall was born to lead London Society. With a few well-placed words in the right ear, she can direct anyone to do her bidding, exactly the skill needed for one destined to be the wife of a man in politics. She has only to visit her friend's country estate for the summer before settling upon the perfect match and achieving her ambition. Harry Aston has spurned the noble aspirations of his family to enter holy orders where he might make a meaningful difference in people's lives. His mother's untiring attempts to find him a wife worthy-and wealthy-enough to suit him only serve to set up his back. He has never been in love, and she should not think that suitable wives dropped down from heaven, especially not in the village of Avebury. When Harry finds Anna unconscious on the road to the village, and she awakens in his arms, his world shifts at her gaze. But before he can think that heaven has come through at last, he must convince Anna that her prolonged stay in Avebury is not fate's way of toying with her, but rather opening her eyes to a worthier path.