She fled with stolen jewels. He offered protection. Neither planned to risk their heart.
With her mother dead and her father lost at sea, Inez De Costa has nowhere left to turn. Alone in England, she is hunted by a dangerous man and hiding a fortune in stolen jewels—wealth that could save her or destroy her. When her employer leaves London to claim a forgotten Cornish estate, Inez makes a desperate choice and hides herself among his belongings…straight into temptation she cannot resist.
Joseph Illingworth has spent his life in another man’s shadow. Inheriting Penwellen offers him a rare chance to build something of his own—until he discovers the beautiful, secretive woman seeking refuge under his roof. Offering Inez protection is the honorable thing to do, but her presence awakens desires he has never dared indulge.
As threats close in and past sins refuse to stay buried, Joseph and Inez find themselves bound by danger, desire, and an impossible bargain. Trust could cost them everything. Love may be the riskiest trade of all.
In this emotionally rich installment of Ladies Least Likely, two wounded souls discover that passion can defy class, fear, and fate—if they are brave enough to claim it.
Urban delivers an emotionally rich historical romance packed with danger, longing, and irresistible slow-burn heat. The Baronet’s Bartered Bride pairs a secretive heroine on the run with a determined, honorable hero fighting for a future of his own, weaving class tension, romantic suspense, and tender devotion into a deeply satisfying love story where trust is earned—and passion is worth every risk.
