Sophia, Lady Claxton, is in no mood for holiday cheer. The only thing she wants this Christmas is for the ton to enjoy the surprise party she planned for her grandfather's birthday and then she intends to make a hasty retreat to spend the holiday alone. She certainly never expected to come face to face with her estranged husband - the man who broke her heart by abandoning her eight months ago. Determined to hold her head up high, she refuses to let anyone see how hurt - or how humiliated - she is by his behaviour. She does the one thing a well-bred noblewoman must: she welcomes her faithless husband home with a kiss...and then seeks refuge in a shuttered townhouse at the edge of London. She certainly wasn't expecting to interrupt her husband's latest assignation...

Vane, Lord Claxton knows what his beautiful young wife must think, discovering him in the arms of another woman. He can't blame Sophia. He's earned every bit of her distrust, deliberately refusing to reveal his secrets and half-truths to her. He thought it would be easier to let her - and the ton - assume the worst about him but after one look at the spirited Sophia, the hurt flashing in her eyes, he knows it's finally time to come clean. He's made mistakes with her but he's returned to London to make things right and win her love again. When a strong winter storm leaves them both stranded inside the shuttered townhouse, Vane knows this is the chance he's been waiting for but will candlelight and Christmas magic be enough to win her heart back again?