A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
If you like historical romance books, you’ll like Julia Quinn’s A Night Like This. Daniel Smythe-Smith, the newly minted Earl of Winstead, is accused of cheating the night he comes into his title, and ends up in a duel with one of his best friends. Deep in his cups, Daniel ends up shooting and injuring his friend. His friend’s father vows retaliation, and Daniel flees England, and spends the next three years in exile in Italy. He returns to England after being told the threat is past, and on his first day home, he meets Anne Wynter, the governess who is taking charge of his rambunctious nieces. Enchanted by Anne, Daniel takes to spending time with Anne and the children. Anne is uncommonly attracted to the Earl, but has a hidden past that could harm their romance. What’s more, it seems that the threat to Daniel is not yet past, despite assurances to the contrary.