When the Duke of Terreno Boscoso sends word that he's seeking a wife for his heir, Rafaello, Florentine silk merchant Giovanni Pietro d'Angelo and his wife encourage a meeting for their headstrong daughter Francesca. She refuses to even consider it until her father makes her a promise- If Rafaello does not suit, you may return. She is therefore shocked when Rafaello chooses her as his bride and her parents agree to his proposal - without her consent. Furious and feeling betrayed, Francesca flees into the forest and takes shelter at an inn. There, she earns her keep as a servant - and meets an unlikely suitor who steals her heart. But how certain can the future be for the runaway bride, who is still promised to another? 'Nobody does it quite like Bertrice Small.' The Romance Reader 'Passionate historical romance . . . Small blends historical facts and a fiery love story effortlessly, cereating a one-of-akind story. Small fans, new and old, will be thrilled.' Night Owl Reviews 'A wild ride from start to finish.' Love Romances & More

Author Biography

Bertrice Small was the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty novels. Among her numerous awards, she was the recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She lived on the North Fork of the eastern end of Long Island, New York, until her death in 2015.