Sparkling Regency Romance from a Captivating New Voice
Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother’s old school friend, a duke–with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she’s heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother’s new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.
When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men–one she’s never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marlow is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda’s heart is far from all that’s at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.
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Sexual Content - 1/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
Decorum has never suited Lady Miranda Hawthorne, much to her mother\'s disappointment and her sister\'s advantage. Miranda is carefree, independent, and . . . .. curiously intrigued, when her brother impulsively employs a new valet who doesn\'t quite fit societal expectations either. There is something a little strange about Marlow, since he appears extremely well educated, socially experienced and handles a horse like a seasoned rider. Marlow\'s undercover work for England\'s War Office has precariously ushered him into the household of his former school mate, the Duke of Riverton. Someone on the estate is leaking vital information to the French government and Marlow is determined not to let one of the duke\'s beautiful sisters be more than a fleeting distraction. All of that changes when he inadvertently discovers that the young lady has been writing him un-posted letters for years; under his real name, the Duke of Marshington; known to his friends as \"Marsh\". When Marlow not-so-\"accidentally\" mails one of Miranda\'s personal letters (to himself) and they begin a weekly correspondence, Miranda becomes totally confused. How can she be mysteriously drawn to Marlow and \"Marsh\" at the same time? And then both of them disappear? Danger lurks deep within the shadows surrounding the anonymous young duke, and eventually entangles Miranda on more than one occasion. Can Miranda convince herself to forgive necessary, but painful subterfuge and will Marsh\'s eccentric, adventuresome lifestyle trully blend with a vibrant lady of society? This sometimes humorous, and often suspenseful, historical romance is delightful and certainly entertaining. Enjoy reading \"A Noble Masquerade\"!