She’s seventeen, spontaneous, and entirely too clever. He’s twenty-nine, serious, and completely off-limits. But the more they clash, the harder it is to stay apart.

Octavia Shelford is doing her best to dazzle the beau monde—and more importantly, her mother—on their Grand Tour. But a year of elegant soirées and polite conversation has only left her exhausted and no closer to impressing the one man whose opinion truly matters.

Guy Claybury, the Duke of Woodford, gave up on finding a love match years ago. He is far too old and far too occupied with preventing war between England and France to consider his friend’s utterly unsuitable daughter as anything other than a nuisance. He needs a practical bride who can manage his diplomatic household, not a reckless girl with a habit of interfering where she shouldn't.

When an assassination attempt strands Octavia at the British embassy in Paris, their forced proximity makes it impossible to ignore what’s been simmering between them. As tensions rise on the Continent, so do the stakes of surrendering their hearts.

But he cannot allow her to piece together the puzzle his heart has become, because unlocking that secret can only lead to one thing: an unsuitable engagement.

An age-gap, slow-burn romance with both enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers vibes. Expect swoony kisses, sharp banter, and aching longing—but never spice. Always a happily ever after. Can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the Victorian Grand Tour series.