With the dazzling blend of romance, humor, and poignant
storytelling that has made her one of the world's best-
loved authors, Johanna Lindsey presents the passionate
Regency-era tale of an earl's daughter who dares to pose as
the wife of a deadly mercenary in order to save her former
guardian.
Lady Margaret Landor first met Sebastian Townshend as a
child, when he caught her peeking into her older sister's
engagement ball. Tall, dashing, and charming, Sebastian was
one of the most sought-after bachelors in Kent and cut a
romantic figure she would not soon forget. Never did she
dream that one day she would be living at his family's
magnificent estate with Sebastian's father, the eighth Earl
of Edgewood, as her guardian--while Sebastian is banished
from his family due to the tragic results of a duel.
When life at Edgewood takes a sinister turn with the earl
suffering a suspicious number of life-threatening
accidents, Margaret wonders if Sebastian's younger brother
and his wife have grown impatient to inherit the earldom.
Setting out to find the one man she believes can set the
situation to rights, she discovers that Sebastian Townshend
has forged a new identity for himself on the continent.
Now known as The Raven, a deadly mercenary, notorious for
accomplishing any mission no matter how seemingly
impossible, he has vowed never to return to England. Not
until Margaret meets his outrageous monetary demands does
Sebastian agree to return home, reluctantly posing as her
husband in order to facilitate his return to society. When
he learns she cannot afford to pay his fee, he suggests a
scandalous trade.
As Margaret and Sebastian work to uncover the intrigue at
his father's estate, afierce passion blooms that neither of
them anticipated and neither can resist. But can Margaret
persuade Sebastian to abandon the dark path he believes is
his fate and claim the life--and love--he deserves?