Showing results by author "Emily E K Murdoch" in All Categories

Olivia Lymington never liked her sister, but twins are always supposed to be close. Now Isabella is engaged to the charming and handsome Colin Vaughn, Duke of Larnwick, and Olivia is forced to act as chaperone until the big day. That’s why, when Isabella goes missing, the entire Lymington family considers it Olivia's responsibility to find her wayward twin.

Miss Mariah Wynn was adopted and has spent her life attempting to prove herself worthy. Intelligent and witty, it's nonetheless not a good idea to let a gentleman know you actually have brains. After all, no one marries the bluestocking, even if she is beautiful and but twenty one. One man who laughs in the face of bluestockings is Patrick O'Leary, Viscount Donal. He knows the woman's place, and that is most certainly in the home.

Miss Sophia Worsley never expected to be left at the altar, but two broken engagements was enough. Never again will she allow herself to be that vulnerable. It's time to rebel against all that society expects of her. Though even at three and twenty, she knew wearing breeches at Almack's were probably too much… If there is one man bored of life, it's Philip Egerton, Earl of Marnmouth. He's seen it all and nothing can surprise him - though the woman laying down a Royal Flush with a grin is certainly new. Ah, a challenge.

Prince Éduard of Aviroux is hunting down the Great Whisperer, the spy helping the French nobility escape the guillotine, and he’s so close when thwarted by the delectable Giselle. In all his years, he has never seen a woman like her: resourceful, cunning, and ready for a fight. What he doesn't realize is that she's just the spy for whom he's looking. Now trapped on an island together with food running out fast, Giselle is attracting his notice for all the wrong reasons, and it surely won't be long before secrets, as well as clothes, start to fly.

James, Viscount of Paendly, has had enough of women. Bored with his traditional, constrained life as a Viscount, he is on his way home with nothing but 27 years of life experience to his credit. The one thing he could never have predicted was the entrance of Miss Rowena - known to him as Rebecca - entering the carriage, raging about an elopement gone wrong and desperate to save her reputation.

Lady Charlotte St Maur is a spinster. Invited to dances as a chaperone rather than a dance partner, it's all she can do to keep back tears as match after match is made - with her help. But a lady over thirty, no matter the title, doesn't find true love. William Lennox, Duke of Mercia, never expected to come to fame and fortune, and never thought anything could be more tiring than soldiering - except the marriage market. He needs to make a good match, but no matter how many young chits he's introduced to, it's always the chaperone who catches his eye.

Miss Helena Patrick is not a governess. At least, not really. The famed and celebrated actress is a little down on her luck, and grasps the chance to masquerade as a governess until better luck comes around. Worse luck for her, she's stuck out in the country with a master who is afraid to leave his house with a wife who died but no one will speak of, his sister who mysteriously disappears whenever anyone wants her, and a brother who . . . a brother who absolutely should not be kissing her. Especially as he's a duke.

Always the widow and never again the bride—her one chance of happiness lost… Mrs. Elizabeth Howard had believed her marriage to be a love match; she was wrong. So when a stranger offers her something she simply cannot refuse, she consoles herself with the knowledge that no one will ever know. Until nine months later. Because after her husband dies and leaves her a widow, Elizabeth does have some perks. She's well-respected, of course, and no one questions whether the child is a Howard or not…

Lady Letitia Cavendish is a Cavendish, but only a cousin of the current Duke so even her name isn't enough for potential suitors to court her. She's a wallflower, terrified of putting herself forward, and so life continues on without her. But at two and twenty, things are getting desperate. The most confident rake in town, Edward Wynn, is a handsome devil - and being the Viscount of Stulsemere doesn't hurt. When, despite his best efforts, he's partnered with the most boring lady at Almack's, he resigns himself to twenty minutes of silence.

Miss Tabitha Chesworth is walking down the aisle for the third time, but never as the bride. Frustrated with being passed over, there's nothing that a well-born lady can do about it. But at four and twenty, she's starting to worry that this is her lot in life - until a fiery encounter with the Duke of Axwick. Richard St Maur, sixteenth in his line, has sworn an oath never to marry.

Lady Harriet Stanhope grew up with her twin brother and his friends, never questioning their laughter or their games - but now she's a young lady, she's desperate for one friend in particular to see her in a different light. But after twenty years of knowing each other, she's just the best friend, not a serious contender for the Duke of Devonshire's heart. Montague Cavendish knows what is due to him and his family name, and he is not fool enough to wish for a love match. He'll find a pretty young thing with plenty of money, and that will be that.

Lady Honora Lennox hasn't gone by that name in three years - not since she was abducted and forced to work in a brothel. She's but nineteen and has given up on the world offering her anything of kindness. Until he walks through her door. Josiah Stanhope, Earl of Chester, is exhausted with politics and games, deceit and lies - it's time for simplicity, and there's nothing simpler than the clear cut exchange of coin for pleasure. And yet there's something different about this girl.

Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke does not believe there is anything greater than matching the perfect pair—and she's become rather expert in it. Never mind that she's never found the missing half to her own soul and body. Perhaps that's not her lot in life, even at the age of eight and twenty. Her own failure is Albemarle Howard, Earl of Lenskeyn. He's rude, he's arrogant, he's overly confident, and nothing Theodosia can do makes a difference. Albemarle has found his match though: and he is sure it is Theodosia.

What had Miss Priscilla Seton been thinking? She had always assumed that Charles would stay the same forever, but bowing to familial wishes he is now engaged—and Priscilla is determined to sabotage the match. She has known him for all her twenty years, and he is hers. But Charles Audley, Duke of Orrinshire, is facing pressures of his own. His marriage arranged for him, there's not a single day that goes by without him regretting Priscilla. Of course, he could never say anything. His family honor is at stake, and he would never betray them—but letting off a little steam?

Lord George Northmere está cansado de su solitaria existencia y toma la decisión radical de ir en contra de la sociedad y las reglas de la sociedad, y buscar consuelo en los brazos de una cortesana. Pero en sus treinta años, nunca ha conocido a nadie como la ardiente señorita italiana Florence Capria.

Alexander, el Duque de Caershire, no esperaba atrapar a una mujer medio ahogada en el Támesis, pero parece que hay poco que hacer salvo ayudar a la desañalida mujer a volver a casa. Teresa Metcalfe, cortesana de los ricos y famosos, sabe reconocer a un tonto cuando lo ve, pero sus instintos de robarle se desvanecen cuando descubre por qué él estaba caminando por los muelles esa noche.

Pierre d'Épiluçon nunca esperó dejar Francia, y mucho menos huir para salvar su vida. Tras perder el control de su embarcación, el noble de veintiocho años es rescatado por la hija de un pescador. Helena, desesperada por escapar de su propia versión de la lamentable prisión de las expectativas familiares, trata de ayudar a Pierre a recuperar la salud mientras que su clase social opuesta, y sus opiniones políticas, chocan. La creciente atracción entre ellos, por supuesto, parece tener una sola cura...

Miss Emma Tilbury is notorious, and that's just the way she likes it. As mistress to the rich and famous, she's never short of cash or invitations—but after reaching thirty, a shock rejection makes her think again. Perhaps it's time to look for another protector. Abraham Fitzclarence—Fitz to his friends—believes in love and has had his eye for years on Miss Emma Tilbury. Forbidden fruit, delectable and sweet, he’s astonished when she takes a shine to him—and his heart is quickly lost despite all his attempts to remain aloof.