Wealthy Rupert Fitzalan leaves his successful Railway Company in America to claim his inheritance following the death of his doughty, proud Grandfather, Lord Fitzalan. A modern, forward thinking businessman, Rupert is also the last male descendant of the mighty Fitzalan Clan, and longs for the beauty of the Scottish Highlands he last saw as a boy.Back in New York, eligible bachelor Rupert is nicknamed, Rupert the Rock, as so far no woman has won his heart. But the truth is that faced with so many vapid American socialites, and their pushy mothers, he secretly fears he will never find a woman he can love and respect, and longs to find a partner who will treasure him in return.Expecting to see the Fitzalan Castle of his boyhood, Rupert is shocked to see an empty, dilapidated shell devoid of all but a few family treasures, and realizes the obvious poverty that his Grandfather has endured to keep it for his heir. Only Duncan, his grandfather's faithful old retainer, is a...

The Duke of Lavenham learns from a letter that the beautiful Lady Penelope who he finds fun and amusing, is telling her friends that she is going to marry him.The Duke is horrified as he has no intention of marrying anyone for many years to come and he hurries to visit Penelope to discuss the matter with her and tell her that he has no intention of marrying anybody.As he is leaving the house, a young girl sobbing hysterically jumps into his carriage and begs him to take her away.The girl, Devinia, who is a cousin of Penelope's, tells the Duke that Penelope has had her dog killed and she wants to die too. She is terribly unhappy and he thinks that she has been very badly treated by Penelope and her family.The Duke takes her to his Castle in the country and it is then that he has the idea that, if he and Devinia pretend to become engaged to each other, Penelope's father cannot accuse him of breach of promise. But the Duke is quite certain if Penelope has told so many people of...

The handsome and aristocratic, thirty-five year old diplomat Lord Athelstan knows that he is heading for trouble on his mission to the Caucasus to investigate how long the legendary Shamyl, the Imam of Daghestan, can hold out against the invading Russians.But little does he expect to be faced with another kind of conflict – with a beautiful young hostage imprisoned in the Imam's stronghold.The lovely Natasha is only nineteen and she was seized along with a Royal party by the Imam's followers and held to ransom against the release of the Imam's only son by the Russians. Orphaned, she has no hope of raising a ransom and instead has reluctantly agreed to be given to the Sultan of Turkey as a 'wife' for his vast harem in return for the release of her nine-year-old brother.The Imam implores Lord Athelstan to escort Natasha safely to Constantinople – a favour he cannot grant lest it anger the Russians and compromise Great Britain.But then he meets her –...

As a minor member of the Greek Royal Family in exile in England, beautiful young Princess Giona knows her Fate only too well. One day she is to marry for duty to her country rather than for love. But to her horror, destiny comes calling far too soon when by Queen Victoria's Royal Command she must marry the ageing and unpleasant King of the Balkan State of Slavonia in order to prevent it being swallowed up by its powerful neighbours, Austria and Germany. Arriving at the Capital City of Slavonia to meet her Royal suitor, she is horrified by his rudeness and contempt for his people – even as they take Giona to their hearts. But on the Royal Train, Giona has a thrilling encounter in the dark with a mystery man, who she saves from capture and execution by the Royal Guards. Could this man be the so-called pretender to the throne she has heard whispered about secretly, the revered 'Invisible One'? Departing as mysteriously as he arrived, he promises, as she has saved his life,...

After visiting the lovely Countess of Helston as her husband is away, Lord Lanwood did not arrive home until the early hours of the morning.And after sleeping later than usual the following morning, he is ready to go riding when his valet tells him that a strange man was waiting downstairs to see him urgently.Pierre, a rough-looking, rough-speaking Frenchman gave him a letter from his nephew Charles.It said that he was being kept a prisoner until he told his captors and their patron, the scheming Comte de Roulé, how to break into Lord Lanwood's castle as they planned to steal his fabulous collection of treasures as well as his valuable paintings, including three exceptional Fragonards.The letter also said that Pierre would take Lord Lanwood to France if he pays him well to rescue Charles.Lord Lanwood has trouble understanding the Frenchman's low slang so he engages the help of the Vicar's daughter, the beautiful Isa, who is adept at languages.When they reach...

Orphaned young and cast upon the charity of her disapproving Aunt Willis, Elvira Carrisford has known little love and affection in her life. All that looks set to change for the better when Elvira is invited to become companion to her lively cousin, Delphine, who is hoping to make a match worthy of her wealth and status. With only hazy childhood memories of her last visit, Elvira is unsure of what to expect but is determined to make a good impression. Lost in the blizzard, and rescued by the enigmatic Serge, Elvira arrives at Baseheart Castle late, disheveled and in need of love and comfort from her family.But it seems that fate intends that their paths shall cross again, and Elvira is stunned when her rescuer turns out to be none other than the valet of the handsome French Prince, intended for her cousin. As a complicated web of love, betrayal and deceit unfolds, Elvira is plunged into a world where people are never what they seem and appearances are definitely deceiving.

Devastated by the treachery of the woman he loves, the Marquis of Kenworth leaves London and the Prince Regent's intimate circle of pleasure loving friends, to join the Duke of Wellington's army as plain Captain Ivan Worth.Facing hardship and the grim reality of battle he is convinced that no woman can ever be trusted to love him for himself, rather than his title, and turns his back on romance forever. Now, wounded by a shell from a French gun, he is in Paris, an invalid guest of his close friend the Duke, waiting for his wound to heal and nursing his broken heart.Into this house of despair comes Shenda, the beautiful daughter of Lord Linbury, who is orphaned after the death of her esteemed, but poverty stricken father. Alone in the world, she has travelled to Paris to fulfill her father's last wish that she seek the protection of his old friend, the Duke of Wellington.Still celebrating his victory at the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke quickly realises that his new...

Money may not be able to buy you love but without it an Earldom is an empty title as black sheep of the family, Michael Belmont, could discover to his cost. Heir to a huge country estate, filled with antiques and the finest furniture, Michael's gambling debts and dissolute lifestyle result in a desperate quarrel with his father, who threatens to disinherit him. When his father dies suddenly, Michael has sunk so low that he does not even have enough money for his fare home. With his allowance gambled and his fine clothes pawned Michael is a man in despair. But all that changes when he meets the beautiful Lady Verna, who is seeking a chauffeur to drive her car home to England. Not knowing that her willing volunteer is actually an Earl, they strike up an unlikely friendship and before the journey ends he has fallen under her spell. Captivated by her independent spirit and positive outlook Michael knows that their love will reform him, and suddenly there is brilliant new hope in...

The beautiful Elissa Valentine has no idea what lies in store for her after the death of her beloved Papa, who was a talented artist. She travels to Yorkshire to start a new life at Fellbrook Towers as a companion to her fearsome grandmother, Lady Hartwell. She soon discovers that the luxurious lifestyle at The Towers is under threat from the wild gambling of her handsome and impetuous cousin,Falcon.When Elissa saves the day by predicting the winning horse in a big race, Falcon showers her with gifts and proposes marriage. But she cannot accept his offer as the struggling artist Richard Stanfieldhas stolen her heart and she cannot forget him. Will Richard's love for Elissa survive Lady Hartwell's attempts to deter him and the violent threats of her cousin? And will Elissa stand firm in her love for Richard, even when she finds him in the arms of the glamorous Latin American beauty, Mercedes deRosario? Find out all in this the dazzling and intriguing romance by...

After years of fighting with the Duke of Wellington against Napoleon, the Marquis of Melverley has neglected his family seat, preferring his dalliances with London's Beau Monde beauties. Now, betrayed by his latest mistress, he returns to Melverley Hall to lick his wounds, but nearing home he is halted by an accident and meets the beautiful young Christina Churston, heartbroken at the death of her old but very beloved pony. Soon, he is appalled to find that she is not only orphaned but also being pestered by a lecherous old womaniser, who lives nearby. So the Marquis promptly offers her his protection at Melverly Hall to be chaperoned by his old Governess, Miss Dickson. Just as Christina melts his heart and he sets about saving the local people from penury, she is kidnapped by the Marquis's evil cousin, Terence Verley, who is the Heir Presumptive to the title and the estate. Kidnapped, imprisoned and about to lose her life, or worse, Christina realises too late that she has...

Almost identical in their golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty and similarly named, cousins Antonia 'Toni' Combe and Latonia Hythe are nevertheless very different personalities.Desperate to avoid a journey to India forced on her by her stern uncle, Kenrick Combe, the new Lord Branscombe, and which would prevent her marrying the man she desperately loves , the flirtatious and capricious Toni beseeches her cousin to take her place as her Uncle Kenrick has not seen Toni for many years.So conscientious Latonia nervously accepts the pretence, assumes the role of her cousin and then sets sail with her stern protector for India.Berated and frowned upon by his Lordship for her cousin's 'misdeeds', Latonia nevertheless looks forward to the adventure of visiting and seeing India, until her deception is revealed to his Lordship's fury!But, when she overhears a sinister plot to kill him, she rushes in the night to warn him and is rewarded with passionate kiss, she suddenly knows...

Beautiful Lady Lucilla Welton is all alone in the world, having lost both her parents in a tragic accident. She has nowhere to go and so she stays with her cruel and distant Aunt Maud, who wants to marry her off as soon as possible. An ardent suitor is at hand – the rich Texan, Harkness Jackson – but his proposal is not one Lucilla could ever contemplate.She has already met the only man who will ever find the key to her heart – but the handsome Marquis of Castlebury is enthralled by another and for him, Lucilla seems to be no more than a casual friend. She accepts the Marquis's invitation to visit Paris with him and her old Nanny comes as chaperone. She is enchanted to be with him, but dark clouds are gathering. And, once Harkness Jackson has found out where she is, the odds against Lucilla ever finding happiness grow longer and longer.She flees the persistent American and the Marquis believes that she has run away with him. She is taken in by her maid...

"I cannot let you die for my sake."The beautiful Zena prayed fervently that the Comte de Graumont would survive the duel with the Marquis de Sade early in the morning in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. Would he ever forgive her for embroiling him in such a dreadful situation.It would break her heart in two, but after this wonderful week in Paris they would never meet again.Zena is really Princess Marie-Therese of Wiedenstein, a small independent Principality between France and Germany. Her brother, Kendric, is the heir to the Throne.Together they had eluded their escorts to escape Court rigour and to spend seven carefree days in Paris under assumed names before Zena becomes engaged to an English Duke.In the glittering whirl of gaiety that marked the Second Empire, Zena pretends to be her brother's mistress, only to find, because of her beauty, that this brings many unexpected problems, not least when she falls madly in love with a debonair French Comte.Zena...