Promise of Spring / Mary Balogh 266 p. December Challenge: 10 Lords a-Leaping

Grace Howard committed an indiscretion in her youth that estranged her from everyone in her family except her impoverished minister brother.  His death leaves her in such deep straights that her brother's good friend, Sir Peregrine Lampman, offers her marriage.  He doesn't put her down for her folly after she confess it...but she doesn't tell all.  And now the rakish lord that caused her downfall is back in her life.  Mary Balogh writes sensous Regency-era romances with interesting dialogue.