Sparkling debutante Lady Miranda Archer was determined to choose a husband based on his fortune, his title, and the size of his castle. But being one of the unpredictable Archers, she couldn't help falling in love with the most unsuitable man in London, Gilbert Fielding, a penniless second son with no title at all, a man who couldn't possibly marry her.

At her family's urging, Miranda chooses the ton's most eligible bachelor, the handsome, rich, and titled Earl of Kelton. The ton predicted it. Her family is delighted. But Miranda cannot forget her first love (can anyone?)

And poor Gilbert. He knows his suit for Miranda would never be accepted by her grandfather, even if he gathered the courage to face the old duke. He decides to keep his place, accept the fact that a woman like Miranda isn't for the likes of him and join the army.

But nobility and fortune come in many guises, especially at Christmas, and Kelton isn't at all what he seems. When Gilbert discovers the earl's secrets, he's determined to protect Miranda, even if it means a long ride to Carrington Castle through thick December snow...

The Archer Family Series 1.5