Loss freezes the heart of a reclusive earl and clouds his judgment whilst his seductive housekeeper manages his bevy of mistresses and holds everyone’s secrets, especially her own. Widowed and alone on the island of Jamaica, eighteen-year-old Cassandra Collins sees her position as housekeeper to a viscount’s brother as her salvation. Salvation turns to nightmare when she is forced to commit an irreparable act to save a child’s life. In fear of the consequences, she flees to England with the help of Captain El Goodrum who, after several years of hiding Cassandra, finds her the perfect position as head housekeeper over the five homes of an earl’s five mistresses. Her need to remain anonymous and her steady demeanor make her the perfect person upon whom he can rely. The handsome and somewhat aloof earl soon comes to depend on her for far more than order. Being his confidante and advisor is no real trial until she realizes the terrible temptation the man is every minute she’s with him. What starts as friendship soon sparks a searing desire. But when sharing their bodies leads to sharing their secrets, will desire turn to disdain? Derek Welkirk, Earl of Framlingwood, learned two hard lessons when he was orphaned at the age of twelve and forced to take on the burdens of an earldom. Loving deeply only causes pain. And caring for people is best expressed by keeping them safe. These lessons are only reinforced when he fails at both which results in the death of his mistress and nearly destroys him. He has kept all succeeding mistresses so safe, he’s accumulated five of them, each in their own house and completely unaware of each other (or so he thinks). Thanks to his incredibly efficient housekeeper, Mrs. Collins, his eccentric life rolls along quite smoothly until a blackmailer announces that one of said mistresses is a murderess. He hopes to discover who she is, but only to protect her from the blackmailer. Fortunately, his lovely housekeeper is easy to confide in, and he trusts her implicitly. She’s become his closest friend…and his most frequent erotic fantasy. In the quest to thwart a blackmailer growing bolder and more violent by the day, Derek and Cassandra discover their admiration for each other has grown from friendship to love. The only thing more heated than the mystery of the murderess is the searing flames of the passion between them. The race is on with the blackmailer’s efforts to end their lives and the truth of the secrets between them set to end their love story forever. Can he dare to love her when she doesn’t need him to keep her safe? Will he ever open his heart to her after he discovers everything between them has been a lie? Grab your pre-order today so you don’t miss this high-stakes finale to the “5 Pearls for the Earl” Series.