For three years, Lady Veronica Smithson has been a happy, independent widow. Still, the right gentleman could provide the benefits of marriage without the tedious restrictions. And in Sir Sebastian Hadley-Attwater, renowned explorer and rogue, Veronica is sure she has found him. Sebastian will inherit his fortune in a matter of weeks - if his family deems him responsible enough. There's no better way to prove his maturity than with a home and a wife. But though the lovely Veronica will share his bed, she refuses to marry. An intimate sojourn at his new country house will surely change her mind. For Sebastian never takes no for an answer. And even in the midst of mischief-making relatives and unexpected complications, he intends to persuade his Christmas mistress that they belong together - in this and every season to come.

Genre: Romance