"Devilish good fun. LORD STANHOPE'S PROPOSAL is regency romance at its best." --Julia Quinn, author of THE DUKE AND I It is the start of the Season and the rakish Earl of Stanhope is less than overjoyed when he is forced to rusticate to Sussex. His foolish, foppish cousin has, it seems, managed to wager away the reputation of one Miss Calista Ashton. Country spinster. Vicar's sister. Radical. Bluestocking. Why, the mere description is enough to call forth a sigh. Nonetheless, in the name of the family honor--and well, to be honest, maybe partly to escape from his two mistresses who are arguing over him--Stanhope heads to the little town of Deepdene. And is surprised indeed. Hardly the elderly, dried-up spinster he had been led to expect, Miss Ashton is, it turns out, possessed of a fine sense of humor, a fine pair of eyes, and under her frumpy brown dresses, a fine. . . well, a gentleman really should not notice that at all. And, oh yes, the lady, as it also turns out, is already engaged. Naturally, being a man of action, Stanhope sets out to remedy the situation. But what will Calista find in his impeccably Weston-tailored arms? Sweet seduction or true love?