Emily and the Dark Angel — Jo Beverley

TWENTY-SIX AND STILL UNCLAIMED
Practical, capable and utterly unromantic, Emily Grantwich is spinsterhood personified. But her prim world goes scandalously atilt when she is inadvertently doused with perfumed powder hurled by a disreputable lady at the handsomest man Emily has ever seen. He is Piers Verderan, the notorious "Dark Angel" -- a dangerous rake shunned by proper society for his volatile temperament and ability to set even the most sensible lady's head spinning. Emily knows she should reject Verderan's unwanted attentions, but her heart urges bet on. Is she simply too naive to recognize as fraudulent his heartfelt declarations of love?