Lord Lysander Blackstone, the stern and fractious Duke of Montcroix, has only one interest: increasing his already considerable fortune. Thanks to a series of betrayals, he keeps his emotions buried deeper than his coffer. Money, after all, can't break a man's heart-nor make promises it can't keep. But when his reputation for being heartless jeopardizes a new business deal, he finds himself seeking the most unusual-and alluring-of solutions . . . Once an up-and-coming ballerina, Miss Geneviève Valery is now hopelessly out of work. After refusing to become a wealthy patron's mistress, Nève was promptly shown the door to the streets. When she accidentally saves the life of a handsome duke, she doubts this encounter will go any better than her last brush with nobility. But instead of propositioning her, Montcroix makes Nève an offer she would be a fool to refuse: perform as his fake fiancée in exchange for fortune enough to start over. Only amidst the drama of the social season, neither are prepared when very real feelings begin to grow between them. In the performance of a lifetime, they both stand to win . . . but only if Montcroix and Nève are willing to risk their hearts