Description

Celia Duryea has been taught to value control, grace, and perfection above all else. But after Ralph Monroe persuades her to try tennis, she discovers the thrill of bungling through something new—and the still more unsettling pleasure of being noticed by a man who refuses to treat her as untouchable. Their playful walks and growing attraction awaken feelings she has long kept buried.

Then Celia’s father returns home unexpectedly, bringing his exacting presence and a demand for her attention. In the shadow of the elegant Duryea household, Celia must navigate the competing claims of duty, obedience, and desire. Set against the manners and expectations of a changing era, this thoughtful romantic story explores the cost of living according to someone else’s ideal—and the courage required to find a self beyond it.