Books like The Dandy's Deception by Philippa Castle

Ullainee Pollinger arrives at London’s season with dazzling beauty, a sparkling dowry, and the hope of selecting her own suitor. Her father, however, arranges a marriage with the Earl of Saintsbury, whom he sees as a business ally. At first glance, the earl’s height and charm win Ullainee’s affection, yet she notices a dissonance: he is both learned and preoccupied with frivolous fashion. Convinced there is something amiss, she struggles to grasp the earl’s true intentions. The tale unfolds as Ullainee navigates courtly expectations, the earl’s deceptive schemes, and her growing heart for a man who may be playing a charade to avoid marriage. Amidst 19th‑century social duties and fashionable intrigues, the story explores themes of appearance versus reality, the cost of arranged marriages, and the yearning for genuine love.

First publish date: 1988