James Thorne, the widowed Viscount Tadbury, insists he will never remarry -- not because he could never love again, as the romantics of Society assume, but because he already does. His late wife's brother, Nicholas, who now lives in James's home, educating his sister's children, is the least appropriate person imaginable. To love a man so closely related by law is unseemly, improper, surely dishonorable, and James values honor and propriety above all things. His beloved Nicholas must never know his true feelings, for his opinion of James could only suffer by it. Nicholas, meanwhile, has been in love with James since the day they met -- the day James was introduced as his sister's betrothed. Of course he could not act on his feelings then, and how can he now? How can he press himself on a grieving widower, or betray his sister's memory? When Nicholas is badly injured during the social event of the Season -- James's brother's engagement ball -- will one of them be shaken into confessing their feelings? Or will they lose their chance forever?

Princess Noemi's brother is betrothed to the crown princess of a neighboring kingdom, an alliance with a stronger nation in exchange for the magic that runs in Noemi's family. When Noemi's brother dies unexpectedly, there's no other male of the bloodline to offer, and the alliance is in danger of dissolving. But the court magician has an experimental spell he says will allow two women to produce an heir. Thus it is Noemi who finds herself married to Princess Caterina. Noemi is fascinated by the kind and beautiful Caterina, but feels certain her feelings can never be returned. What does she have to offer except social ineptitude, a bad temper, and a mediocre appearance? How could Caterina ever want her instead of her lost brother? But when an accident threatens Caterina’s life and only Noemi’s magical talent can save her, they may find they have more in common than they ever suspected ...