Fortune’s Flower

Verbena Barnes and Damon Thern may have lived in the same village, but the lines between their two families are harshly enforced. Once, six years before, Damon's older brother Andrew had dared to marry across those lines-to Verbena's older sister Edeline. The Barnes have since fallen on hard times.

Then Andrew dies, leaving Edeline in a world that no longer has any use for her. She confides her troubles to Verbena, and one of then is a secret too big to conceal for long. Against her better judgment, Verbena agrees to help. But there is one large-and complicated-impediment: Andrew's brother Damon.

Damon barely survived napoleon's war. He has returned to the family's country home to recover. The day of Andrew's death, Damon finds Verbena in his woods, flouting the fences that are supposed to keep everyone out. He had hoped, for his own reasons, to find her. She might not agree but she needs him, and he intends to stay very close.

His sudden and surprising interest in her puts Verbena in direct conflict with her promise to her sister. The secrets mount, tearing Verbena between family loyalty and the promise of security-and love.

It is not so easy to get rid of a man who has no intention of giving up a dream. Verbena might be willing to deny her feelings to keep her sister's secret, but Damon is willing to risk everything to win her heart.

He will have to, because somewhere out there is a totally unexpected threat.