Vincent rescues widowed Penelope and her toddler son from freezing to death in the snow after her father Lord Tennytree had refused to receive her because she had married against his wishes. He takes them to his married sister Georgi's house where a Christmas house party is under way. Social and family complications ensue. A little Christmasy stuff, a lot of social maneuvering, a couple of eccentrics, some adventure, a solid story of the growth of a relationship between two people who had some reason to feel they would never have that in their lives. Set after Waterloo. A good read.
back cover:
SOMETIMES THE PERFECT MATCH...
Sardonic and older than his years, Vincent George Beverly seems hardened, even cynical. Yet to his friends, no one has a kinder, more giving heart. Thus, it is no surprise to them when on his way to his cousin Georgianna's for the holidays, he stops to play the hero, rescuing a lady and her babe from a raging snowstorm. Now, two new and unexpected guests have joined Georgie's house party. But to her everlasting dismay, the stunning widow and her adorable child are drawing Vincent's attention away from the eligible miss who could be his perfect match...
...IS MADE UNDER THE MISTLETOE
Penelope Garth has always been strong - and strong-willed. How else could she have defied her father by eloping...or survived her husband's tragic death? But now the spirited widow is at her wit's end. If not for Vincent, she and little Tal would surely have perished. Yet she knows she cannot stay here long. For as the days go by her feelings for her gallant and gloriously handsome rescuer grow ever warmer...while he seems destined to be someone else's love.