With his dashing good looks and looming bankruptcy, Nathan Cantrell is Sir Harian's answer to one of his three problems: three unwed daughters. And he's not above a little blackmail to bring about a satisfying end to his dilemma. So Nathan must choose between ruin - or marriage to Violet, the willowy widow, Sophy, the high-spirited girl schoolgirl...or Abigail, the bookworm. Nathan despairs of his options - until a morning swim finds him besotted by the captivating beauty of a most unlikely water nymph...Certainly Abigail had no idea the Adonis she encountered in the pond would turn out to be her father's guest, whose knowing eyes and sensual smile make her weak. Nonetheless, she has more important things to attend to behind closed doors - for Abigail lives a secret life as London's premier author of gothic romance. Surely the woman who lives vicariously through romance in her novels has no need for the real thing. Then again, research is always beneficial, especially since happy endings are the most crucial aspect of any good love story...