In the balmy summer of 1900 golden-haired Chesterton “Chess” Mannerly arrives at his formidable Aunt Hermione’s grand Cape Cod summer house expecting a season of tranquil sea breezes and idle afternoons, he instead meets the captivating Kenmore Raddison—a brilliant young decorator with raven curls, golden eyes, and a genius for turning rooms into revelations.
What begins as a playful collaboration of silks, paint, and daring design soon becomes something far more transformative. As the two bring new life to a faded Victorian cottage—and later to a stately Boston townhouse—their shared eye for beauty awakens a deeper devotion neither anticipated. Under Aunt Hermione’s amused and approving gaze, and amid the glittering salons of Beacon Hill, Chess and Ken discover that the most exquisite work of art they will ever create is the life they dare to build together.
A tender, elegant romance in the spirit of Edith Wharton, this story celebrates love, courage, and the quiet splendor of two hearts choosing forever.
