Diona and a Dalmatian

Sir Hereward Grantley is angry, as usual. A bad-tempered man with little to commend him, he is determined that his niece, the orphaned Diona, will understand the great favour he has done by offering her a home. Never missing an opportunity to mention Diona’s penniless status and dependency, her uncle is an arrogant bully.
Diona, aghast at being thrust into a world of unkindness and bullish behaviour after the love in her parent’s home, mourns their loss and clings to the last thing that her popular, horse-loving papa gave her − her beloved Dalmatian, Sirius.
When Sir Hereward’s sly son Simon clumsily tries to kiss her, Diona spurns him. And when Sirius knocks over an ornament he uses the incident to take revenge ,telling his father the dog is a menace and should be shot.
This is the last straw and Diona flees, Fate guiding her to the protection of the handsome Marquis of Irchester. A confirmed bachelor and friend of the Prince of Wales, the Marquis is a prized catch amongst Society debutantes and wealthy widows alike – but he has so far managed to evade being trapped, while enjoying the companionship of some of the most beautiful women in London.
But when touchingly innocent Diona begs him for a job, she provokes protective feelings in the Marquis that he didn’t realise he had. Accepting her wish to remain anonymous, he admires her determination to save her beloved dog, and swears to prevent anyone harming her or Sirius.
But can Diona remain anonymous once her uncle starts looking for her? And just how far will the Marquis go to protect a girl he doesn’t know? As fate throws Diona an unexpected wild card the pressure is on and faith, loyalty and true love will all be tested to the ultimate limits.