A dutiful lady's maid, Miss Madeline Atwater knows precisely what her future holds: countless nights of dressing her mistress in silk gowns, pinning her hair in elegant curls, and selecting the perfect pair of slippers before sending her off to the ball. But Madeline harbors a secret dream. Just once, she'd like to be the one who attends the grand party—and tonight could be her chance. All she needs to do is borrow her mistress's cast-off dress and sneak downstairs during the Twelfth Night Ball . . .

Lord Justin Whitmoreland, Marquess of Whitmore, is a confirmed bachelor for good reason. But after sharing one sensuous dance with a mystery woman, he finds himself looking for her around every street corner and in every ballroom. The very last place he expects his mystery woman to turn up is under his own roof.

When Madeline is sacked from her job, Justin's meddling sister hires her as her new lady's maid. Justin would have to be the worst kind of scoundrel to trifle with a woman in his employ, and Madeline believes she has zero chance of capturing a marquess's heart . . . so why is it so difficult for them to resist stealing private moments together?

Contains mature themes.