Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 72)
A desperate heiress. A jaded former soldier. They've got
twenty-one days to fall in love…or risk losing everything.
Twenty-one days. A measly three weeks. That's all the
time Bianca Featherswallow is allowed to convince Theo Filliol to marry her. If
she doesn't marry in three weeks, Bianca will once again be prey to fortune
hunters who are eager to abduct her for her dowry. Theo was hired as her
protector, and somehow she needs to convince the man to consider her for his
wife. If only he wasn't so attractive. How is she supposed to woo him when she's
tongue-tied and her heart thunders every time he's near?
Theophile Filliol, younger son of an earl, doesn't think
he can protect anyone—least of all an heiress. He's literally been gambling and
drinking for weeks to forget the failures of his past. Considering the debt he's
racked up, he can't ignore Mrs. Dove-Lyon's orders to play bodyguard to Bianca
Featherswallow. At least the Black Widow isn't trying to marry him off. The
lovely Bianca would make any man a happy groom, but Theo isn't the kind of man
she needs.
As dangers abound, from storms to fortune hunters to the
pair's own sensual desires, will twenty-one days be enough time to fall in
love? And even if Theo falls for Bianca, can he trust himself with her heart?
Bianca has had enough. A beautiful young heiress, she has
endured three attempted abductions by fortune hunters desperate for her dowry. After
the most recent attempt, Bianca and her father visit Mrs. Dove-Lyon for
assistance in finding Bianca a husband. Mrs. Dove-Lyon knows exactly who she
wants for Bianca's husband but also knows he won't respond to her usual
methods.
Theo is the youngest son of an earl and a former soldier.
Since returning from the war, he has spent his time drinking and gambling to
forget past failures he blames himself for. He owes the Lyon's Den a vast
amount of money, so he cannot refuse Mrs. Dove-Lyon's order to act as a
bodyguard for Bianca for three weeks.
This is not the usual setup of a rich woman needing a
husband and Mrs. Dove-Lyon manipulating an impoverished man into an immediate
marriage. Theo knows nothing about the widow's endgame. He believes he is only
there to protect Bianca. On the other hand, she has three weeks to convince him
that he wants to marry her.
The development of their relationship was interesting.
Theo doesn't believe he can protect her, but he will do his best. Bianca makes
it difficult because once they arrive at her country estate, she believes there
is no danger and continues wandering off on her own. Theo's frustration with
her stubbornness is evident. He is stunned when, after her failed attempts at
flirting with him, she lets slip that she is supposed to get him to marry her.
He would like nothing more than to do so but has no confidence in his ability
to keep her safe.
The more time Bianca spends with Theo, the more she likes
him. Theo feels the same way about her, and it isn't long before attraction
joins the mix. But when Bianca's life is in danger again, he blames himself, certain
it proves that he is unworthy of her. The scenes during her recovery are
heartbreaking, and I ached for Theo and his pain. The ending was terrific, with
a nice twist.
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