The Willful Widow — Valerie King

The lovely young widow, Mrs. Henrietta Harte, was not all inclined to pursue the sort of romantic folly the persistent King Brandish had in mind. She had to concentrate on marrying off her penniless sisters and managing her spendthrift mama. Surely Mr. Brandish could fit in with her plans somehow....

Her chance encounter with handsome King Brandish in the Hampshire countryside quite disconcerted Mrs. Henrietta Harte. The lovely young widow was not at all inclined to pursue the sort of romantic folly the persistent King Brandish had in mind. He was everything her late husband had been -- irresistibly charming, and a heartless roué. She'd had enough of that, thank you very much. Besides, she had to concentrate on the matter at hand, that being marrying off her penniless sisters and the firm management of her spendthrift mama. How the wealthy Mr. Brandish would fit in her plans, she had no clue. But surely she could think of something....

She was a maddening chit, by turns intriguing, infuriating, and perfectly delightful. She was far from indifferent from him -- if her warm response to his kiss was any indication -- yet she was hell bent on extricating herself from what promised to be a most pleasurable alliance. And when she wasn't scheming to avoid him, she was engaged in endless machinations involving everyone around her. Enough! Despite everything, King wanted the elusive widow, and he was every bit as stubborn as she!

Hero: King Brandish
Heroine: Mrs. Henrietta Harte