Widows of the Aristocracy

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The Earl of Fennington has a secret identity - he doubles as Mr. Pepperidge, editor of London's premiere gossip rag, The Tattler. While attending a garden party as the earl, he meets and falls in love with Lady Emelia. The attraction is instant and mutual, and a stolen kiss won't cause any harm. Will it? But when Fennington asks permission to marry Emelia, her father denies him, requiring him instead to court Emelia for eight weeks. Only allowed to see her once each week, Fennington devises a scheme to see her more often by posing as Mr. Pepperidge. Each week they meet in the park where Emelia provides him with the gossip she hears whilst paying calls in Mayfair parlors. It's that, or he'll print the scandalous news of her kiss with Fennington in The Tattler! Meanwhile, Andrew Burroughs, the long lost love of Jane Vandermeer, Dowager Countess of Stoneleigh, returns to her life with a promise that he'll spend the rest of his life with her in London. The future suddenly looks bright, until The Tattler prints a report of Andrew kissing another woman. Now hurt and angered, Jane sets out to discover the truth while Emelia is about to discover one of her own-all while a new Gossip Goddess shares news of philandering fake aristocrats. With mistaken identities ruling the reports in The Tattler, is it any wonder the members of the ton love to hate gossip? Or do they really love The Gossip of an Earl? The Tattler knows!

A year after her husband's death, Lady Lydia Barrymore is determined to resume her work for the Foreign Office. She's spent a year solving puzzles and assembling dissected maps to maintain her skills. Her first assignment has her perplexed, though-do what she must to help a fellow operative recover his sanity. Although she finds the man rather beautiful, Sir Donald has also proved most annoying. Newly knighted Adonis "Donald" Truscott returned from the Continent with a tendency to get lost in his thoughts. His frequent episodes of staring at nothing have his sister claiming he's a candidate for Bedlam-and he's not about to argue. He doesn't always remember where or when he was when he recovers, but he remembers he made a promise, and he's determined to keep it. A promise to provide protection for Lydia, whether she wants it or not. When a puzzle's directions require Lydia to solve it with the help of Adonis, she discovers the man harbors secrets that may be impossible to reveal.

Nothing makes a man more lonely than his secrets. The same might be said for women. Godfrey, Viscount Thorncastle, has a secret he'd rather not tell anyone, including the woman for whom he has held a candle for over twenty years. Elise Burroughs Batey, the widow of Lord Lancaster, has had enough of marriage, but pining for the chance at motherhood, she may just have to consider Godfrey's proposal. If he can just get it right. The man has some preconceived notions about his true love, none of which are true. But then, she has some of the same notions about him. And none of them are real! Meanwhile, Adam Comber, Viscount Breckinridge, has finally decided it's time to marry-or perhaps a pending deadline has him motivated to find a bride. Why not the very first woman he spots from the bow window at White's? He may not be the best at mathematics, but he's pretty sure she's got his number. As an arithmetic teacher and dance instructor at a finishing school, Diana Albright has a secret she'd rather the ton not learn, especially the rather handsome man who has just informed her she will be his bride. What a bounder! Of course, his proposal is just a lark. Or is it? Does the viscount really intend to take her as his wife? Some numbers just don't quite add up in "The Secrets of a Viscount".