She was only meant to keep his house— not steal his heart.

He offered her refuge. She gave him hope.

She came to his estate seeking safety—not love.

Lady Emma Grantham has experienced more than her share of loss. Orphaned as a child and raised among distant relatives alongside her older sister, she’s long since learned to rely on herself. Now temporarily caring for her spirited four-year-old niece, Katie, Emma will do whatever it takes to keep the child safe. When a suspicious fire forces them to flee London, she accepts an unconventional offer: a post as housekeeper at a quiet Sussex estate. But the man who gives them refuge is anything but ordinary. The Earl of Wilton is sharp-witted, private—and distractingly handsome, with sun-kissed curls and sea-green eyes that unsettle her far more than they should. Still, Emma is focused on survival. Her heart is not part of the bargain.

He never asked to be the Earl of Wilton—but he may be the only one who can keep them safe.

Scarred in body and soul by years of war and secret service to the Crown— and now burdened with a newly inherited title and the estates that come with it—Michael Robinson wants nothing more than peace. His leg is ravaged, his past filled with shadows, and the simpering world of the ton holds no appeal. But then Emma arrives—all flame-red hair, extraordinary violet eyes, and spirited strength. She’s nothing like the debutantes who covet his title. And Katie—with her curious questions and bright smile—has him wrapped around her little finger before he realizes it.

Two guarded hearts. One hidden threat. And a love neither of them expected.

As warmth and unexpected laughter fill the earl’s once-silent halls, something darker stirs beyond them. The fire was no accident, and the danger they escaped may be drawing closer. With their lives—and their hearts—on the line, Michael and Emma must choose— go their separate ways…or fight for the love they never saw coming.

Tropes / Themes You'll Love:

• Housekeeper / Governess Romance
• Nobleman & Commoner / Class Difference
• Guardian / Niece in Peril
• Scarred / Wounded Hero
• Reluctant Nobleman
• Found Family / Healing Home
• Slow Burn Romance
• Danger & Suspense

The Rakes of Mayhem

The Earl of Excess

The Marquess of Mischief

The Duke of Disorder

The Baron's Return

To Win a Viscount’s Heart

Tempting a Lonely Lord

To Heal a Broken Earl

Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.