Showing results by author "Jessie Clever" in All Categories

Lady Johanna Darby has loved Benedict Carver since they were young, but he’s never seen her as more than his best friend’s little sister. When Benedict marries another and emigrates to America, she knows she will never love another. But with her sisters all wed, Johanna resigns herself to finding a match to finally leave her family home and give her brother his much-deserved freedom to find his own wife.

Lady Anna Elmont, the dowager Countess of Wexford, has only one wish: to remain safely a widow. Having spent two years under the control of her manipulative husband, Annie plans to enjoy widowhood and discover who she might have been had she not wed. If the Duke of Grimsby will let her. Despite their difference in age or perhaps because of it, Gabriel Phelps, the Duke of Grimsby is compelled to protect his best friend’s widow.

Shunned by a society that puts attractiveness above all else, Lady Eliza Darby’s wallflower status keeps her from getting the one thing she wants most, namely, to be a mother. But, when her scorned older sister returns home to see all of her sisters wed in happy matches, it may be Eliza’s only chance to secure a husband and have the children she so desires. Jilted in a publicly humiliating display, Dax Kane, the Duke of Ashbourne, has sworn off love forever. But, when the title demands it, he selects the most perfect candidate for the position: Lady Eliza Darby.

Lady Vivianna Darby was considered a smashing success by society’s standards. After all, she landed Ryder Maxen, the coveted Duke of Margate, in her first season out. Wildly in love, Viv believed herself lucky to have escaped the cold marriages common amongst the ton.

Lady Gwendolyn Bounds survived smallpox at the age of eight to go on to do…nothing. Outcast by society because of the scars that mark her face, Gwen has convinced herself that a future as a spinster spent aiding her mother in her doddering years will be enough even as her heart knows it is not. Somewhere there is a second chance out there. She just never thought it would be with a sheep farmer from Yorkshire.

Orphaned and destitute, Lady Amelia Atwood must marry to save her family from utter financial devastation. Lost between her sisters, neglected by her father, and scorned by her mother, Amelia learned being close to people only brought hurt and loneliness, and she avoids them at all costs. But if she wishes to save her sisters, she must sacrifice herself.

Lady Louisa Darby blames herself for her mother’s death when the Darby sisters were still so young and has dedicated her life to ensuring her sisters’ happiness. So when she’s lured into a compromising situation that will endanger her youngest sister’s chance at a happy marriage, Louisa will do whatever is necessary to protect her family’s reputation and save her sister’s chance at the future she deserves. Even if it means marrying the Beastly Duke.

Ten years ago, Penelope Paiget promised she’d wait for Samuel Black. But she was only a genteel, impoverished paid companion, forced into service after her father’s death revealed his insurmountable debts. Now she’s a successful novelist, posing as secretary to the Earl of Wickshire to hide her identity. Ten years ago, Samuel Black chose his own path instead of upholding his family’s legacy as spies. But having fought for the formation of the Metropolitan Police Force, echoes of his past and his true origins remind him how unworthy he is to call himself detective inspector.

The last thing Eleanora Quinton expects when the dead body hits the floor, is love with the son of a duke. As society’s most capable housekeeper, Eleanora has conquered any number of social disasters. But when a dead body falls right into the middle of her mistress’ ball and her son gets kidnapped, the only person who can help her also forces her to face her most crippling fears

Ransom Shepard, the Earl of Knighton, has never known love. When his father died tragically young, his mother refused to care for Ransom, leaving him in the care of the help as she descended into the grief of losing her husband. Abandoned by the one person who should have loved him unconditionally, Ransom chose a life as far from love as possible. The life of a rogue, and one he’s lived with smashing success. Until Lady Alice Atwood kidnaps him in his own carriage.

Lady Catriona Cordelia Mackenzie became a burden the moment she was born. Unwanted by her Scottish father for being born a girl and scorned by her grandmother for carrying a hated name, Della is only left with books for comfort. But when she reaches her majority, her father summons her to his Scottish keep to marry her off to the gentleman who will pledge the greatest alliance to him.

Lady Adaline Atwood is the most beautiful wallflower in London. Cursed with beauty but no dowry, she has remained on the fringes of every ball for the four seasons she’s been out. It needn’t matter though as she has loved her best friend, Ashfield Riggs, since she can remember. The problem is Ash only has eyes for another.

Jane Black is plain and smart, a combination sure to kill any prospects found in a London season. Pretending her wallflower status is of no concern, Jane focuses on the quiet country life she’s planned even as she struggles with the vow she made to her grandfather to protect the family. But when she discovers her grandfather’s friend, Dr. Seymour, carries with him the secret to unmasking the traitor behind the attacks on the Black family, Jane knows it’s her duty to rescue the doctor from Bedlam and carry him to safety. If only the Marquess of Evanshire will allow her to do so.

Ethel Jones didn’t mean to fall in love with her employer’s cousin. What had started out as an unexpected friendship had quickly developed into something she had never dreamed of, and it was probably the absurdity of the thing that kept her refusing every proposal Stephen Marley made. For how could a mere lady’s maid marry the cousin of a duke? Stephen Marley was discarded at birth for the twisted foot that marked him as an outcast.

Destitute and orphaned, the Atwood sisters await the arrival of their new guardian, the mysterious and unknown Uncle Herman, the new Earl of Biggleswade. But each Atwood sister carries a secret of their own.

Lady Jane Haven had to find a reason to survive. Widowed after an abusive marriage, Jane seeks solace in the arms of the one man she has always loved. But her scars run deep, and the physical comfort her lover brings does little to heal her pain. Richard Black, the Duke of Lofton and spy for the British War Office, waited for her, watching as the agony of marriage broke the woman he loved. His instincts tell him to protect her at all costs now that she has come to him, but when Jane stumbles into his current case investigating a bodysnatching ring, his intentions prove harder to keep.

Forced into the marriage to help her carry out missions as a female spy, Sarah struggles with accepting her position as a member of high society, a position that seems ill-gained in relation to her lowly birth. The fact that she is secretly in love with her husband, the earl, does not help matters at all. Alec Black, Earl of Stryden, and brilliant spy for the British War Office, cannot speak to his wife, which makes for a rather uncomfortable imprisonment.

She’s an accomplished spy for the British War Office, carrying out daring missions no one else has the tenacity to attempt. And yet, no one can remember her name. The daughter of a revered naval captain, Katharine Cavanaugh, the Countess of Stirling, is only ever known as Captain Hadley’s daughter. Under the pressure of her heritage, she has always does what others expect of her without ever wondering what she expects of herself. American mercenary Matthew Thatcher has spent his life running away from every expectation he has for himself.

Haunted by a tragic mistake in her past that endangered her family and nearly cost the life of the only man she could ever love, Emily now lives a life of exile that just so happens to include sword play and stealth on the dark streets of London in an attempt to stop innocent people from coming to harm at the hands of seedy criminals. Caring not for her own safety, Emily embarks on a life of justice at all costs, if only to rid her mind of the ghostly image of her lost love.

Having already spent two seasons on the Marriage Mart without a single flutter of her heart, Lady Eloise Bounds has given up on ever finding a love match and accepts the reality of her situation. When the Duke of Ardley expresses interest in having her for his wife, Eloise has no choice but to put away her childish dreams and become the duchess her mother wants her to be.