Grace Burrowes
Miss Catherine Fairchild spent much of her life haring about the globe with her diplomat parents, though she grasped at a young age that as a legitimate by-blow, her social standing among Polite Society would be marginal at best. Now she's lost both parents and is settled back in London, where she learns that not only is she an heiress, but that the family title can be preserved through the female line.
Miss Dubious has become Miss Desirable,
...Matilda Merridew, former hoyden of the first water, finds herself widowed, weary, and in want of coin. Along comes Marcus, Lord Tremont, with an interesting–and decent–proposition. Tremont will provide Matilda a handsome salary and keep a commodious roof over her head if she will relieve him of the burden of managing a houseful of unruly former soldiers.
Matilda accepts the post, and soon learns that the proper, soft-spoken earl
...Miss Dorcas Delancey, vicar's daughter and advocate for the less fortunate, has been guarding her heart from fortune hunters and fashionable fribbles for years. She's completely unprepared for Alasdhair MacKay, former officer and all around grouch, to steal that heart. But when Alasdhair takes on responsibility for a motherless infant whom Dorcas's family won't acknowledge, she sees the honor lurking beneath his gruff mannerisms.
Alasdhair
...Lydia Lovelace has taken the housekeeper's post in the London home of Captain Dylan Powell. The captain is short on charm, but he's known for his rapport with, and support of, former soldiers trying to make a peacetime life in London. Unbeknownst to the captain, Lydia is searching for a brother who never came home after Waterloo, a brother whose birthright, along with Lydia's settlements, is being frittered away by scheming family members.
...45) Miss Devoted
Psyche Fremont has known two constants in life: Her passion for her art, and society's determination to ignore her talent. She isn't looking for anything other than a handsome model when she crosses paths with Michael Delancey, and he's only interested in making a few discreet coins lounging about in the altogether. Both Michael and Psyche are guarding secrets, but when love blooms, can they continue to guard their hearts?
Heiress Anne Baxter seeks a repairing lease by the sea after she's left standing at the altar for the second time. To her utter mortification, the best man, Augustus, Duke of Tindale, has been invited to a house party at a nearby estate, and comes upon Anne trying to enjoy some solitude along the shore.
Augustus believes Anne is far better off without the buffoon who jilted her, but knows polite society will hold the lady accountable for
...If it's not weddings, then hapless widows are expected to attending christenings... Lady Violet returns with St. Sevier to her family seat, and finds Derwent Hall at sixes and sevens upon the occasion of her nephew's christening. Other guests have brought their children along to celebrate the occasion, and Sebastian MacHeath is on hand to serve as godfather.
Nobody seems to be getting along, despite the happy nature of the gathering. Summer
...Having enjoyed her tour of the Scottish countryside, Lady Violet Belmaine is reluctant to return to London. Her escort, Hugh St. Sevier, suggests a detour to the Lakes, where his former army connections have invited him to renew old acquaintances. Violet is happy to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, but all is not right with St. Sevier's friends.
Their host's estate is struggling, several marriages from the old regiment appear to be faltering,
...Sycamore Dorning has watched one sibling after another succumb to the blandishments of wedded bliss, while he has grown wealthy and—deuce take it—lonely. He loves the ladies generally, though he waits in vain for the woman who can love him in all his contrary, stubborn, outspoken glory.
Jeanette, Marchioness of Tavistock, endured six years of wedded purgatory before earning the independence of widowhood. She's admittedly attracted
...Lady Violet Belmaine is just finding her balance as a widow who has recently put off mourning when she's summoned to the family seat to celebrate a sibling's wedding. Hugh St. Sevier's escort makes the journey somewhat bearable, while Sebastian MacHeath's presence among the guests is a more dubious blessing.
Violet is managing as best she can with her stubborn Papa, difficult brothers, and well meaning aunties, when the bride goes missing.
...51) Darius
Lady Violet and Sebastian MacHeath are trying to forge a cordial marriage out of unlikely beginnings. When they are invited to a summer house party, they accept, hoping to make the excursion into a belated wedding journey of sorts–or at least a respite from meddling relatives. No sooner do they arrive, than their host's ward is accused of petty wrongdoing. As the charges escalate into familial acrimony and worse, Violet determines that a
...While Lady Violet Belmaine is busy sorting out the odd turns her life has recently taken, Hugh St. Sevier repairs to his Kent estate in hopes of embarking on the placid life of a rural physician. Alas, for St. Sevier, the village of St. Ivo has more secrets than it has pots of heartease, and the good doctor will once again find himself the target of rumors and threats.
Somebody is rigging St. Ivo's hound races, setting neighbor against neighbor,
...Vergilius, Viscount Summerton, has watched his wife grow more and more distant, and he's determined that this year the marriage will start moving in a better direction. Penelope, Lady Summerton, is also determined that this year will be different. She slips off to a seaside cottage, intending that to be her first step toward a new life free of marital difficulties. Gill ends up at the same seaside inn, where he hopes to plot a wooing no wife can
...David Worthington, Viscount Fairly, has inherited a brothel he does not want, but hesitates to sell for fear his employees will not be treated well by the establishment's next owner. He hires Letty Banks, a courtesan currently without protector, to serve as madam, but soon finds himself attracted to her on more than just a physical level.
When serious harm befalls Letty, David realizes he cannot continue to ignore the dreams of a woman
...Gareth Alexander, Marquis of Heathgate, has spent nine years indulging every whim allowed the wealthy and wanton—also grieving five family members who died in the boating accident that left him with the title. To meet an obligation to a deceased friend, Gareth, a confirmed rake, must teach Felicity Worthington, an equally confirmed spinster, how to manage a brothel. Time is running out to ensure Felicity has the security the business will
...Though there are lines he will not cross, Darius Lindsey has become the favorite plaything or wealthy, bored, society ladies. He contracts one final engagement with the pretty, sweet, Lady Vivian Longstreet, in hopes that meeting his obligations to Vivian will free him from the financial constraints making his life hell. Darius finds that the bargain he thought would cost him the last of his self-respect instead resurrects both his honor and his
...Ash Dorning has loved Della Haddonfield from afar for years. He has played the part of the cordial family connection and battled every demon from lack of funds, to meddling relatives, to a recurring case of the blue devils—while other men have won Della's smiles. When Della lands in the midst of scandal, those fellows who fawned over her hand disappear behind the nearest potted palms, leaving Ash to waltz to the rescue.
Della is compromised
...Valerian Dorning is handsome, charming, and absolutely pockets to let. He's hopelessly attracted to heiress Emily Pepper, but as he tells Emily, an honorable man must bring independent means to his marriage.
Emily has been chased by enough fortune hunters to know that the forthright fellow who balks at taking advantage of her wealth is exactly the man she needs, but she's hiding secrets that Valerian must never learn. He needs a fortune,
...Fabianus Haviland, Viscount Penweather, did not journey to the wilds of Dorsetshire in the dead of winter to engage in yet another dalliance with yet another lonely widow. Being a trifle lonely himself—only a trifle—he's looking for a fresh start in fresh surrounds.
Fabianus has always enjoyed the company of sensible women, though, and Lady Daisy is very sensible. Her ladyship doesn't mince words regarding disappointing marital
...