Romance at the Royal Menagerie — Ruth J. Hartman

Francesca Hartwell adores cats of every kind. Lions, leopards, tigers. And they all love her. Good thing she gets to see them every day, since her father is their caregiver in the Tower of London's Royal Menagerie. She'd love to find a man with whom she could share her love of animals, but so far, no one has stolen her heart. And there's the added snag that whoever she marries must not have anything to do with nobility, as her mother left her and her father for an earl. John Fairgate is torn by the fact that he'll inherit the title of baron upon his uncle's death. Especially given that his uncle insists that he give up ornithology and marry a childhood acquaintance. The first request, John will honor no matter how much he hates the idea. But marrying a shrew who makes his skin crawl, he simply cannot do. Meeting Miss Francesca Hartwell at the zoo has given him other ideas for a wife. But she's not titled or wealthy. How will John be able to convince his uncle that she's the woman of his heart?