Persephone Ballard has kidnapped a viscount. In her defense, it was her brother's fault.

For ten years, Percy's brother has been madly in love with a notorious actress. And for just as long, he's refused to marry her to protect his wallflower little sister from scandal. But now that Percy's firmly (and happily!) on the shelf, she's had enough of her brother's self-sacrifice. Her plan? Kidnap his rakish best friend at the family Christmas party, ruin her own reputation, and rescue her brother from his self-imposed heartbreak.

Leopold, Viscount de Valincourt has found himself in plenty of scrapes—but waking up beside his best friend's shy, scholarly, surprisingly cunning sister isn't one he anticipated. Leo shocks them both, however, when he takes Percy's scheme even further. Why stop at ruination? If he brings Percy to his ancestral home as his bride, he can fulfill his beloved grandmother's dying wishes to see him happily settled and save his best friend.

But to convince Leo's grandmother of their passionate elopement, Percy and Leo must fake a grand romance at the ancient abbey until the end of the Christmas season. Nothing—not ghostly monks or scorched plum puddings or even Grand-maman's watchful eye—will ruin their perfect plan. Unless, of course, someone actually falls in love . . .