Lady Charlotte Ashbourne stands on the precipice of ruin, her family's fortune ruthlessly stolen by the enigmatic and brooding Duke of Ravenscroft, Grant Tilbury. Driven by desperation, Charlotte is determined to reclaim her family's honor and fortune from the man who ruined them.
Grant Tilbury, a notorious rogue, revels in a life of vice and leisure with no intentions of settling down. However, when he crosses paths with the spirited and beautiful Lady Charlotte, he finds himself intrigued. Unable to resist the challenge, he makes her an indecent proposal. Seeing an opportunity for revenge, Charlotte devises a daring plan: accept his indecent proposal, make him fall in love with her, bring him to his knees, and then shatter his heart as he did her family's.
As Christmas magic weaves its spell, the boundaries between pretense and reality begin to blur. Charlotte finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Grant, discovering hidden depths and vulnerabilities in him that she never anticipated. Grant, too, is captivated by Charlotte's fiery spirit and unyielding determination, finding himself entangled in emotions he thought he’d forever forsaken.
With secrets unveiled and their game of hearts taking an unexpected turn, the holiday festivities become a backdrop for a passionate battle of wills. Will Charlotte's quest for vengeance be overtaken by an undeniable love? Can the rogue Duke find redemption in the embrace of the woman who sought to destroy him? As their hearts intertwine and the true spirit of the season works its magic, the fate of their love hangs in the balance. Will Charlotte bid adieu to the Duke forever, or will love triumph in the most unexpected of ways?
Genre: FICTION / Romance / RegencyThe stillness of winter settled heavily over Riverwood Manor, as if the snow itself had stolen away every sound. Even the crackling fire in the main hall seemed muted, the warmth barely touching the chill that seeped into Lady Charlotte Ashbourne’s very bones.
She stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the snow-covered landscape. The flakes swirled and danced, beautiful yet cold—a reflection of the bleakness that had seeped into her bones. Her delicate features, once the epitome of grace and warmth, were now etched with a mix of anger and steely determination. A faint furrow in her brow hinted at the burden she carried.
"How far we have fallen," she murmured, her fingers tracing the delicate pattern of frost on the windowpane. Once, Riverwood had been a place of glittering balls and merry laughter ringing through corridors. Servants had bustled to and fro, fires always blazing in the hearths to ward off the chill. Her father's jovial voice had boomed with joy and pride.
Now, only shadows and silence remained. Stripped of its finery and warmth, Riverwood stood as a husk of its former glory, ravaged by the cruel winds of fate. Like barren trees in the dead of winter, her family had been left exposed, their roots withering under the weight of scandal and ruin.
Charlotte’s heart clenched as she recalled the happier days—whirling through the grand ballroom, her silk skirts sweeping the floor, her father’s laughter filling the air as he twirled her about. She could still feel the warmth of the hearth, her family gathered around it, their faces aglow with love and contentment. The memory was too sweet, too painful.
It had all been ripped away by the cruel machinations of one man.
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Portuguese
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Translation in progress.
Translated by Letícia Valle
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