Regency Intrigue

"If I could have foreseen the future, I would have married the first man who asked me!" Tongues were set wagging when Elizabeth Markham's glamorous young parents were killed, sinking their only child to the unspeakable class of poor relation. Forced to live with her cruel, miserly uncle Julius, Elizabeth is forbidden to partake in the season's festivities. Marriage is her only escape, and she enacts a daring plan to trick her way into the Duke of Dunster's exclusive house party, to snare one of the eligible dandies sure to dance attendance on her. Her plan proceeds swimmingly, as Elizabeth flirts with all but the arrogant Lord Charles Lufford, considered to be quite a catch. She ignores him thoroughly until her uncle discovers her deception and Charles saves her-by announcing their engagement! But Elizabeth's troubles are far from over, for in her absence she had come into an inheritance. And her uncle, along with one other sinister party would rather see her perish than receive it.

From beloved historical romance author Marion Chesney comes the second installment in the Regency Intrigue series.With little to live on but her romantic daydreams-which frequently starred the dashing Marquess of Fleetwater-Jean Lindsay lived a rather dismal life with her nasty, drunken uncle. Jean was always the object of ridicule, that is, until news of her unexpected inheritance spread. Suddenly her worn dresses became "quaint" and her forthright manner turned magically to "charming," but to Jean's horror, someone wanted her dead! With the marquess nearby to save her pretty neck, Jean felt quite safe … and quite smitten. As for her hero … how had an unsophisticated child from a Scottish manse turned his head and his heart askew?

Lady Lucinda Esmond's swine of a father, the Earl of Sotheran, was forever fleecing young bucks in London's gaming halls with impunity-until he cheats Captain Mark Chamfrey, who kidnaps ten-year-old Lucinda for ransom. But when Chamfrey has a change of heart and returns the girl, Earl Esmond nonetheless exacts his own price: Chamfrey can only redeem himself and save his skin by marrying his little victim nine years hence. Lucinda's father could not have foreseen what a beauty Lucinda would become, nor that Chamfrey, a newly made Marquess, would find that what was supposed to be his punishment turns out be exactly what he desires!

An aristocratic lady is accused of murder in a historical romance by this bestselling author. The upper class of the social circle regarded Sir Benjamin Wright with utmost honor and respect. Yet Lady Emma knew her husband was, in fact, a drunken jealous brute who delighted in humiliating her both in and out of the bedroom. His murder had been a blessing, she thought, until the constable's accusing finger pointed to her. But it soon became apparent that her late husband hid secrets-and enemies. When the practical Comte Saint-Juste arrived on the scene offering his services, Lady Emma was about to discover what the French dedication to l'amour really meant.

Annabelle Carruthers can only dream of being kissed by a man as dashing as Lord Darkwood. She remains locked in misery-married to a rakish drunk who gambles their lives into financial and social ruin. His sudden death-and rumors of spies and treachery-only make matters worse. Burdened with gambling debts, Annabelle fears she is on her way to the poorhouse. The only solution she can see is to offer herself up as mistress to the mysterious Lord Darkwood!Darkwood, however, is too much of a gentleman to take advantage of a lady such as Annabelle. Still, he is quite interested in rumors of her husband's espionage-a curiosity that will soon place them both in grave danger.

"I am Miss Lamberton. Miss Constance Lamberton. I hoped that you would employ me as your companion." So it was that quiet, reserved Constance came to the household of the haughty but beautiful Lady Amelia. She would serve as the lady's chaperone throughout the season's many festivities, finding herself an unwitting accomplice in Lady Amelia's scheme to trap the very eligible Lord Philip into marriage. But it was not Lady Amelia who won Lord Philip's heart. It was the pale, golden-eyed Constance herself. And very soon, Constance became Lady Philip Cautry. It was not a marriage made in heaven, but surely it would be in time. But then Constance disappeared. Lord Philip didn't know how or why. All that mattered to him was the safe return of his beloved Constance …

A unique spin on the romance genre from New York Times bestselling author Marion Chesney I am going to die, Polly thought. The crowd clamored for a speech. Polly raised her hands, and they fell silent. From the foot of the gallows, she asked the spectators why she, a poor woman, should hang for theft, while the abbess of Covent Garden can commit murder on the souls of innocent country girls over and over again and yet go free-and then she condemned them to hell.