Their marriage was convenient...

Simon St. James, fifth Earl of Trask, knows he could do worse in the marriage of convenience department. Sophie Stanton may be a social liability—with her ungovernable ways and flighty nature—but Simon has responsibilities that far outweigh happiness in the household. As for happiness in bedroom...he has to admit he sees Sophie’s potential in that arena.

Their passion was not!

But Sophie isn’t some bargaining chip to be traded, and she’s not about to let Simon tell her how to live her life—even though she’s nurtured a crush on the handsome earl for as long as she can remember. If his idea of courtship is telling her what to do, she’s not interested—or at least she’s trying not to be. But when his scolding words turn into scorching kisses, suddenly Sophie starts paying attention.

Meredith Burnley will do anything to save her half-sister Annabel's life.  When Annabel's guardian threatens to lock her up in a lunatic asylum, Meredith vows to find a husband to protect her, and the sophisticated and arrogant Marquess of Silverton seems like the perfect man to keep her safe.  Although Silverton agrees to court Annabel, he is stunned by his fierce attraction to the country-bred Meredith.

Meredith knows she must never succumb to Silverton's powerful masculinity, but her willpower is no match for his relentless and skillful seduction.  But her surrender to love throws Meredith and her sister into danger, and only Silverton can rescue them.  The arrogant marquess must be willing to risk everything, or lose Meredith and his last chance for love.

Deeply emotional and highly sensual, Mastering the Marquess combines the elegance of the regency novel with the dark romanticism of the gothic.