Award-winning author Vanessa Riley turns all convention on its head for the first in an enchanting, dazzlingly diverse new Regency romance trilogy featuring a duke, three sisters, and a tantalizing bet with a most desirable reward…

A triumphant return to romanceRiley renders the Regency in living color, with impressive historical detail and an admirably diverse cast. Historical romance readers will be entranced. Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

The perfect historical read. Julia Quinn, #1New York Timesbestselling author

When a duke discovers the woman he loves was tricked into marrying another, the master chess player makes the now-widowed viscountess the highest-stakes wager of his life in a last-ditch effort to win her affection: he will find husbands for her two sistersor depart forever…

Georgina Wilcox, a wallflower with hidden musical talents, is furious when her reclusive older sisterthe recently widowed viscountessrefuses sorely needed help from the Duke of Torrance, the only gentleman who has shown kindness to the bereft Wilcox sisters. Georgina decides to get back at her sister and shock the viscountess by kissing the first willing stranger she meets in the enchanting gardens of Anya House. Unfortunately, her sister is not the sole witness. A group of reporters and thetons leading gossips catch Georgina in a passionate embrace with a reticent composer, Lord Mark Sebastian.

The third son of an influential marquis, the tongue-tied Mark is determined to keep the scandal from ruining Georginas reputation and his own prospects of winning the celebrated Harlberts Prize for music. Under the guise of private voice lessons, the two embark on a daring gamble to fool thetoninto believing that their feigned courtship is honorable while bolstering Georginas singing genius to captivate potential suitors. Sexist cartoons, family rivalries, and an upcoming ball test the fake couples resolve. Will their sudden fiery collaborationand growing attractionprove theres nothing false about a first kiss and scandalously irresistible temptation?