title: The Slide into Ruin
author: Stuart, Bronwyn
description: He came to collect a debt. He left with a wife. Darius may be an ex-pirate and nameless bastard, but his word is his bond and damsels in distress are his weakness. In order to collect a large debt and rebuild his lost fortune, Darius takes Eliza Penfold as his wife. It's supposed to be a marriage of convenience, not passion. But from their first encounter, she stirs his blood like no other and Darius wonders if he can truly leave her behind.Deceived into a marriage contract with a dangerous man, Eliza is forced to admit she and her siblings need protection. She needs to let go of her wounded pride and flawed schemes if she's to survive. But when her protector is a vengeful pirate running a scheme of his own, she may be getting far more trouble than help.They're both hiding something and when one of England's most notorious and vicious criminals comes to call, lives will be in danger and loyalties will be put to the ultimate test...