A Contemporary Countess

A former American foster child and a twenty-first century English Earl. What could they possibly have in common? They're about to find out.

When Darielle St. James became the sole winner of New York’s biggest lottery jackpot in history, she knew her life was about to change. Hounded by the curious press and fortune hunters, she moved into a small secure apartment building overlooking Central Park, and started work on her first novel. Now she had both the time and the means to write.

Online research for her novel, leads her to the estate of Adam Darfield, the Earl of Avanleigh, a struggling English aristocrat whose name is oddly similar to that of her Regency hero. Adam and his sister Susie run Avanleigh Estate, which is sadly in need of funds due to the enormous death taxes imposed at the loss of their father.

Dari’s childhood dream of living in a beautiful stately home suddenly comes to the forefront, and she writes to Adam with an interesting proposal. She would like to come to Avanleigh for six weeks to write her novel in the historic setting for which she is willing to pay a large fee, giving them a chance to get to know each other, and if all goes well, to marry.

Adam, stunned at the unusual request, is encouraged by his romantically inclined sister Susie to take Dari up on the offer. Six weeks will give him a chance to get to know the beautiful young American, and the fee she has offered will help with the taxes. While he is not committed to anything, marrying her would ensure the financial future of the estate for many generations to come. It was after all, what his own ancestors had done.