Miss Murchison’s Mistletoe Memories

A Duke expected to marry, a Scottish Viscount’s daughter who is newly come to London, a reunion that brings up shared childhood memories, an unwanted suitor, an unexpected passion that leads to compromise, a love found under the Christmas mistletoe.

Miss Èibhlin Murchison, daughter of Viscount Felldale, has been sent to London, accompanied by her aunt as chaperone, so that the Duchess of Stonemont can sponsor her introduction into society. The Duchess is an old friend of her father’s, but Èibhlin knows little of her, beyond the few times that she visited the neighbouring property in Scotland – Èibhlin has much fonder memories of her son, who was kind enough to play with her when she was barely more than a child, and to treat her as intelligent. Eight long years have passed, while she kept a keepsake of that year, tucked away in her diary. But will he, now Duke, remember her at all?

Niall Smythe, Duke of Stonemont, feels the weight of his title heavily, little more than a year after his father’s death. The ton all watch him, waiting for him to pick a woman to marry, and his mother has very strong opinions on just what that woman should be like. Opinions which do not, so far, align with his own, very well at all, even though he accepts their validity. Then, unexpectedly, his mother offers to sponsor their Scottish neighbour’s daughter into society. Memories of helping her gather mistletoe, of long and interesting conversations, of days so different from the rest of his life, resurface. What might she be like, now? Will she remember him?

As memories draw them together, the Duchess and Èibhlin’s aunt try to push them apart, encouraging gentlemen who seek to court Èibhlin, despite her dislike of them. Will they realise the truth of their feelings? Or will society’s expectations force them apart?

Will one moment under the Christmas mistletoe bring a lasting love, or only a scandal?