Book excerpt: “It seems to me that it would be to our mutual advantage if you were to become my wife…” Faced with no home and no family, Venetia was only too aware that Duert ter Laan-Luitinga’s solution to her problems was certainly practical—albeit rather unorthodox! Yet, he seemed set on the idea of a marriage of convenience, and Venetia really had no choice but to agree. So, having found a sensible solution to her diffi culties, surely she wouldn’t be so foolish as to fall in love with him—would she?