Severus, Earl of Swithland must settle down and produce an heir. But among the bevy of beauties vying for his attention, none holds his interest except one: Penelope. Clumsy, intelligent, appealing Penelope is the one woman he could love-but she's expected to marry another. Afraid she'll be labeled an unmarriageable bluestocking, Penelope's family forces her to go without her badly needed spectacles in public. Though she has loved Severus for years, the best she can hope for is a loveless union with a perfectly suitable-and perfectly boring-cousin. Except Severus has changed his mind. Hours spent in his rooftop observatory leads to a passion they can't deny. Yet just as their eyes open to lasting love, Penelope is embroiled in a plot to destroy her family and take her away from Severus forever. If he wants to keep his heart's treasure, Severus will have to fight for her.