When Richard, the identical twin of the Earl of Marchant, is sent to Cornwall to resolve a financial dispute on behalf of The Somiton Company, he expects nothing more than a straightforward transaction. Instead, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn into the quiet resilience and fierce spirit of Miss Demelza Trenwith and her struggling family.
Demelza is convinced the bank has stolen the compensation owed to them for her late father's years of service as a sea captain. With her mother gravely ill, two headstrong brothers slipping into dangerous company and winter fast approaching, she is desperate for the money they were promised.
Upon arrival, Richard mistakes Demelza for a mere servant—an error that sparks immediate animosity between them. But as tragedy strikes and an unwelcome relative threatens to upend everything, Demelza finds herself forced to rely on the very man she vowed to keep at arm’s length. Can she put aside her pride and accept his help, or will the emotions simmering between them prove too powerful to overcome?
Trope: Forced Proximity
