England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word
that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on
his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that
she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are
suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the
next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning
sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast.
Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive,
Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll
keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry
a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome
gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus,
Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious
stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets
and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks
off each other -- and soon London society is abuzz over
the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling
in love....
Irresistible
Claire Banning fulfilled every debutante's dream when she
married a rich nobleman. Soon, however, the celebrated
beauty realizes she wed a dissolute wastrel. Bitterly hurt
and desperately lonely, Claire vows nonetheless to take
her expected place in society. Then on a journey home to
her husband's estate on the coast of Sussex, she is
abducted, and her life -- and her heart -- are changed
forever.
Hugh Battancourt -- a dark and dangerous nobleman who long
ago turned his back on the ton and now leads a life
secretly dedicated to his country's service -- is
determined not to be swayed by his prisoner's beauty as
they share a cabin on a ship bound for France. Lives
depend on his retrieving from her a letter full of secrets
she intends to turn over to the enemy. But even as Claire
and Hugh engage in a battle of wits and wills, captor and
captive find themselves drawn irresistibly to each other.
Is it possible, Claire wonders, that she could discover
the true meaning of love that has eluded her with this
handsome stranger? One who will lay his life on the line
in order to protect her from someone who is intent on
placing Claire in the path of danger?
With this sensual and entrancing tale, bestselling author
Karen Robards continues her wonderful trilogy of three
sisters taking their rightful place as the belles of
Regency England's ton.