With the shop finally closed and her seamstresses home for the holiday, modiste Pauline Dawkins is ready to enjoy a rare moment of peace. But when an unsigned letter arrives late on the night before Christmas Eve—demanding an impossible clothing order under threat to her business—Pauline finds herself swept into a challenge she cannot ignore.
With only thirty-six hours, no staff, and one icy London night to solve the mystery and complete the gowns, Pauline turns to the last person she ever expected to trust: the tongue-tied but talented tailor Benjamin Cooper.
As needles fly and secrets unravel, unexpected alliances form and long-buried feelings surface. And just when things seem under control, Pauline’s business partner, the Countess of Bridlington, delivers the most surprising gift of all.
Between a daring commission, a very special delivery, and a romance she never saw coming, Pauline might discover that the most perfect presents aren’t wrapped in ribbons—but sewn with courage, stitched with hope, and handed over straight from the heart.