The Secret Mistress / Mary Balogh / 527 pages / R. T. Reviewer's Choice Award

Lady Angeline Dudley is traveling to London for her first season.  Her brother Tresham is coming from London to meet her at an inn along the way from Acton Park.  She is left unsupervised and is saved from an unsavory encounter with a rake by Edward Ailsbury, the Earl of Heyward.  Edward must marry to provide an heir for the title and has decided upon dependable, studious Eunice to be his partner.  Angeline has decided that she must have Edward as her husband, at least until she becomes award of the relationship already existing between Edward and Eunice.  Her attempts at matchmaking have questionable results.