All's fair in love and war-or is it?
Beautiful, headstrong Madeleine of Elford has picked her husband. Unfortunately, her family disagrees. When her father organizes a tournament to parade alternative suitors in front of Madeleine, she is outraged but determined to stay true to her choice.
Thomas of Draycott needs a rich wife, and quickly. To save his floundering demesne, he will even participate in a tournament to win a dowry that will solve his problems.
Childhood nemesis, Thomas of Draycott, arrives at Elford and tests Madeleine's resolve from the moment they meet again. A skilled warrior, handsome and honorable, Thomas is her father's favorite and only has to be near Madeleine for sparks to ignite.
Thomas remembers Madeleine well from fostering at Elford, and even his desperate need for a rich wife would not persuade him to woo a woman who hates him. Except Madeleine is all grown up, and Thomas is experiencing strong feelings of a most inconvenient kind. And Madeleine doesn't appear to hate him after all.
Battle lines are blurred as enemies become lovers in the Betrothal Melee.
