The Perfect Lover

NeverletitbesaidthataCynstermalecan'tfaceuptotheoneunassailabletruth:Asuccessfulmarriagegiveslifeitsfullestmeaning.ToallofEnglishsociety,SimonFrederickCynsterhasaperfectlife--oneofenormouswealthandimpeccablesocialstatus.Hisleanhandsomenessturnstheheadsofnaivedebutantes,whilehissensualallureensuresheneverlacksformoresophisticatedpartnersforanight,ormore,ofpleasure.Yetdespiteallofthis,Simonknowsthatthereissomething--orrathersomeone--missinginhislife.Toachievetruecontentment,Simonmustfindaladyaccomplishedenoughtobehiswife,someonewhowillspendherdaysasamemberofoneofEngland'smostinfluentialfamilies...andhernightspursuingdutiesofamoreprivate--andpersonal--nature.ButSimonknowswhattoexpectifherevealshisintentiontochooseabride;nothingcouldbemoretiresomethanhavingeveryblushingmissonthemarriagemartthrustuponhim.SohediscreetlybeginshissearchatahousepartyatGlossupHall...andisastonishedthattheladywhoimmediatelycaptureshisinterestisPortiaAshford.SimonhasneverconsideredPortiaasapotentialwife.He'sknowntheraven-hairedbeautysincechildhood;she'swillfullyindependentandhasalwaysclaimedtobeuninterestedinmarriage.Butanunexpectedlyheatedkissabruptlyalterstherulesoftheirdecade-longinteraction.Soontheybegintolongforthemomentstheycanspendineachother'sarms.ButallisnotasitseemsatGlossupHall.AsSimonandPortiabegintoexplorethedepthsoftheirmutualpassion,ashockingmurderiscommitted...anditappearsthatthenextvictimwillbePortiaherself.AndevenmoreshockingthanthefactthatamurderersecretlywalksamongthemistherealizationthatallofSimon'sconsiderablestrengthandinfluencemaynotbeenoughtoprotectPortia--hisonceandalwaysperfectlover...