Rachel Morgan Frost & Fae Bargains

She's been told she's too much. He's been told he's not enough. They're about to make a secret deal to keep both their families happy ... At a twelve-day midwinter house party at one of the grandest estates in the United Fae Isles, Lady Aveline Thornhart-still reeling from a magical debut that went spectacularly wrong- must be the perfect lady to salvage her reputation , while the incorrigible Lord Bastian Blackbriar has been sent by his family to court her and plans to sabotage the match by being thoroughly himself. When his attempts to provoke the infuriatingly perfect Aveline lead to a confrontation where all their cards end up on the table, they strike a deal: a fake courtship , just convincing enough to satisfy both their families, after which they'll part ways and call it settled. But forced proximity has a way of undoing the best-laid plans ... For fans of swoon-without-spice romance, sparring partners with delicious competitive energy, and a glittering Regency-inspired world where the magic is as cozy as a crackling hearth. - - - Series Timeline Note : This story takes place the winter before TEMPESTS & TEA LEAVES (Iris and Jasvian's story). It can be read at any point in The Charmed Leaf Legacy series.