Tempting a Lonely Lord

A determined viscount... William Dudley never expected to inherit the title of Viscount-or the neglected estate in Kent that came with it. But duty is something he has never shied away from. Now responsible for his spirited young brother, William is juggling guardianship, estate matters, and his ongoing secret work for the Crown. Though he has officially resigned as an agent, he still deciphers coded messages and remains relentless in his pursuit of a criminal smuggling ring wreaking havoc along the coast. Marriage is the last thing on his mind-until fate quite literally drops into his arms. A fateful fall... Lady Bella Conolly's search for her mischievous dog, Lacey, leads her to the newly inhabited neighboring estate. But when her chase ends with a misstep down an embankment, she finds herself swept into the arms of a stranger. A golden-haired Adonis with striking blue eyes, a devilish grin, and the kind of effortless charm that could make any woman weak in the knees. Yet beneath his easy smile and godlike beauty, there's something else-something elusive. A quiet intensity that speaks of secrets carefully guarded. Bella should know better than to be drawn in by mystery and charm alone, yet she cannot deny the pull of curiosity... or attraction. A dangerous dilemma... Yet Bella's troubles are far from over. Her uncle is determined to marry her off to a ruthless earl with sinister motives and a chilling hold over her family. As danger tightens its grip, Bella must decide whether she can trust the debonair and dashing viscount who has unexpectedly entered her world. Together, they must navigate secrets, schemes, and the undeniable pull of a love neither of them expected. Can William unravel the web of deceit before it's too late? Or will Bella be lost to the shadows of a perilous plot? Tropes / Story Hooks: ¿ Spy hero ¿ Inherited title / reluctant viscount ¿ Spirited heroine ¿ Villainous arranged marriage ¿ Danger and intrigue ¿ Forced proximity Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader's imagination.