Lady Myrtle McQuoid has always felt a little forgotten, and this season is no exception. When her family vacates their London townhouse for the country, Myrtle finds she's been left behind. But she just needs to stay warm, keep her belly full, and distract herself until her relatives realize their mistake and turn back to collect her. Surely that won't take long. Brooding widower Val Bancroft, the Duke of Aragon, has shut himself off from the world. He craves blessed solitude--a loyal dog, a silent house, and his own company are all he requires. Certainly not the nonstop chattering of the joyful, opinionated young woman next door. But with a potential threat lurking in the winter shadows, Myrtle may need to pluck up the nerve to approach the reclusive duke. And Val is not one to turn his back on a vulnerable lady. Amid the silent nights of London, beneath a blanket of snow, could the light of a new, warm love be kindling?