A gambler's disgraced widow and an embittered Napoleonic war veteran are scarred by their pasts but willing to bet on the future in this sensitively rendered romance. When Lady Emma Tarrant sees her younger brother lose a fortune at cards, she challenges Colin Wareham, the fifth baron of St. Mawr, to a game of chance that could cancel her brother's debt or end in disaster. With a delicately depicted Regency setting interwoven with a tender love story, this novel provides a passionate portrayal of marriage partners who learn how to love and cherish one another in the face of society's disapproval and family entanglements. Exceptional characters and beautifully crafted historical details ensure a delightful read for Judith McNaught and Mary Balogh fans.