A gloom hangs over the wedding of brainy Catherine Benson to handsome, brooding Andrew Davener. Ruined by scandal, Catherine has no choice but to accept a marriage of convenience to her simultaneously “sour and amiable” groom, who needs her dowry. The two are determined not to fall in love, but romance thwarts their firm intentions.

As Catherine settles into Andrew’s run-down estate and befriends his housebound sister Gemma, it’s only a matter of time before the already married pair realize they’re kindred souls and get into bed together. None of the gentle plot turns are likely to surprise genre readers, though Vaughn livens the story with subplots featuring a colorful supporting cast, including a lesbian couple building a life together as “Sisters of a Finer Kind” and a lady’s maid trying to advance in the world by opening her own shop. The art by Searle and Smith is somewhat sparse and flat but enriched by softly glowing colors. Though this sweet and sexually frank love story doesn’t break any new ground, fans of Bridgerton and similar fare will swoon along its familiar path.