Henry Sealey is usually from the Regency. He's an amateur detective who's made quite a name for himself amongst the gentry, and as he's just turned thirty, his mind should be turning to marriage. He's quite certain no woman would tolerate him, though, so he's decided to become used to the idea of being alone and bury himself in his work instead.

It's not that he isn't lonely. He is. The emotionally oblivious facade that he's so famous for is a ruse that serves him well professionally, but not so much personally. However, he's experienced enough rejection that he's unwilling to take a chance on anything new.

His family doesn't help. His father was close to disowning him for his profession, and only chose not to because his brother could die in service to the Royal Navy. Michael is often absent, and his younger sister Esther also needs to be taken care of. Even though Henry has his own fortune and could be free of them, he doesn't want to entirely abandon his siblings. So he buries himself in his hobbies, which include drawing and playing the flute, to pass the time he'd rather spend with a companion.

When Rowan whirls into his life, he's completely unprepared for her to disarm him, and he's always resistant at first. But eventually he realizes she's just the partner he's looking for, no matter what the tenets of society say.

If you crave a slow burn, the soft wisp of a glove against a bared hand, and layers of skirts to pull up before satisfaction can be had, Henry is who you've been waiting for.