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A ruined reputation, a monstrous secret, and a love story as old as time¿ Gossip is one of Charlotte's favorite pastimes-until she finds herself its target. Nearly a year into widowhood and newly with child, Lady Charlotte James finds herself rejected by her lover. She must find a new husband or face ruin. Leopold Bennet, Earl of Champaign, shuns society and his own reflection. Hidden away in the country, he is free to spend countless hours in his observatory with the stars. They don't judge him for the occasional, all-consuming attacks, nor do they stare in horror at his scarred face. But, the anonymity of a masquerade proves too tempting, and Lee braves the crush. With golden curls and a quick wit, Charlotte instantly captivates him. But the midnight unmasking sends him fleeing back to the shadows. Unwilling to accept defeat, Charlotte presents Lee with a scandalous proposition. To her astonishment, he agrees with a caveat of his own-one year in the country in exchange for the protection of his name. A Properly Conducted Sham is a heartfelt twist on "Beauty and the Beast." This marriage of convenience brings together two lonely, broken souls underneath the stars.