This one hit me in a sweet spot. I loved both Gareth Morant and Jessica Gifford and the story really flowed for me.

Gareth Morant has been promised as husband for many years to Maude Templeton, but they regard each other as siblings and therefore want a way out of this, Gareth decides the only way is for him to create a scandal and when Jessica Gifford falls into his arms, literally, and naked, he decides to use the opportunity presented to find a way out.

Jessica Gifford is a governess who falls prey to kidnapping, while she's being prepared for auction as a virginal prize she manages to run away and is rescued by Gareth Morant. She goes along with his scheme to make her publically his mistress because he offers her an inducement in the form of a sinecure. What the two of them don't bank on is how attracted they are to each other.

I really enjoyed the read, nothing spectacular but the characters really appealed and it was a fun read. If I owned a copy it would become part of my comfort read shelf. ( )