Darien

The Cape of Good Hope, 1820…

When Darien Forbes left England behind for the Cape of Good Hope, he’d hoped to leave behind the heartache and betrayal as well. His brother could keep his Marquisate and Darien’s fiancée both – Darien would devote his life to hedonism on the other end of the world, and never entrust his heart to a beautiful woman again.

Mariana de Ruyter was a capable young woman. Hard-working. Sensible. Of sturdy Dutch peasant stock, but she gave up on dreams of a handsome young man sweeping her off her feet, when her beautiful sisters were around for comparison.

When Darien meets Mariana in the light of day, he thinks she’d be the perfect wife – one no-one else would want.

How was he to know that under his care and attention, she’d bloom and become a beauty other men would covet?