Showing results for "wayward" in Historical

In only six weeks, Isla Ramsey is due to marry Henry Northrup, the sixth Earl of Sydney. But she remains haunted by memories of the dashing Hugh Courtney, the Marquess Pierce. The handsome aristocrat had hinted at forever and then tossed her aside, leaving Isla with few viable options. Now, as she awaits her new fiance's arrival from London, she rides her horse past Hugh's estate at Hazelwood every day, pining for a man who was never truly hers.

Lord Devlin Wayward, gambler and dedicated rake, returns home for the first time in years, and lands himself and his identical twin, Daniel, the good reverend, in deep trouble. Devlin ends up with a broken leg and unable to travel to London, yet he must return. He's got an important deal that will make or break his fortune. He persuades the reluctant reverend to take his place in London while he temporarily minds his brother's flock.

Irish Captain Ruaidri O' Devir has no love for the English. Taken from his family and pressed into the Royal Navy at a young age, he is now a commander for the fledgling American Continental Navy, hand-picked by John Adams himself to steal a potent new explosive from the British. Ruaidri expects to be successful in his mission. What he doesn't expect is to fall in love with the sister of the man he's crossed an ocean to abduct....

There's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke. The Duke of Mandrick has made it clear he's only aiding Felicity's successful entrance into society because he's taken pity on his friend's poor country relation. Luckily for Felicity, her chaperone Lady Greta has agreed to tutor her in the art of flirtation. And since the coldhearted duke is the last man to fall for her charms, he's the perfect man to practice on. However, when her attempts to flirt are an epic fail, it's the duke who comes to her rescue.

Phillipa, Duchess of Dorsett is not your average demure lady in society. For behind her charming smile, she hides a secret and a wicked reputation. Tasked by Queen Victoria to protect the innocent, she's recruited the most formidable women of the ton - The Queen's Deadly Damsels. Lady Olivia Smithwick sold her soul to save her daughter, and in return has made an enemy of the Duchess. As they attempt their mission, together and alone, their simple deal becomes dangerously complicated.

Miss Lydia Montague’s life takes an unexpected turn when she learns of an inheritance that could grant her the independence she’s always craved. But there’s a catch: to claim it, she must travel with the brooding Maximilian Ashcombe, Duke of Hasting, to his remote estate. Neither is thrilled by the arrangement—Maximilian sees it as an inconvenience, and Lydia is determined to prove she doesn’t need his help. As the journey unfolds, danger shadows their every step.

When Lady Emma Percival's father dies, leaving her penniless and alone, she fears that she will end up on the streets. Help is at hand, albeit from an unlikely source, when it transpires that her father has appointed his greatest enemy to be her guardian. The Duke of Liscarroll is a cold-hearted brute whom Emma spars with at every turn, but soon their angry altercations turn to something else entirely....

Determined to avoid the strife-filled marriage of his parents, Marcus, the Duke of Ulvercombe, wants an amenable, biddable wife, and has set his cap for a certain pretty miss. Unfortunately, her vastly opinionated, frustrating, and lamentably beautiful guardian, Lady Clara Tinniswood, keeps distracting him, tempting him to consider a far more tempestuous—and passionate—union. Recently widowed Lady Clara Tinniswood wants only to organize a quiet new life for herself, beyond the control of any man. But one shockingly unguarded moment catapults her headlong into a forbidden passion.

After his twin brother pulls a foolish prank, Reverend Daniel Wayward's life is now decidedly complicated. With his family, his parish, and even his reputation at risk, there's only one way to avoid utter ruin—by swapping places with his rakish, wicked twin. And the second Daniel steps foot into his brother's worldly and sinful life in London, he's completely caught by temptation of the most enticing, green-eyed kind.

Devastated by the disappearance of his sister, the Earl of Stranraer has gone to extraordinary lengths to find the notorious rake responsible, and enters his household incognito to wreak his vengeance. But his enemy has an unexpected protector—the innocent but headstrong Miss Cassandra Blythe. Cassie is determined to learn the art of seduction. But she is blindsided by her body's thrilling response to the wrong man—a mysterious servant who shows up at the most inauspicious moments to spoil her lessons in love with warnings of her imminent ruin.

Emma Hibbert will never again trust a good-looking man. They offer nothing but heartbreak and humiliation. But her conscience won't let her abandon a sinfully handsome stranger needing help—even if he ignites an unwelcome passion in her. She soon realizes she should have left him in the mud where she found him, for he has the power to ruin everything . . .

Logan Weston, the Duke of Templeton, never wants to remarry. Losing his wife devastated him. He has an heir. Another marriage isn't necessary. At least until a certain countess invades his thoughts. One meeting and she's all he desires. But she doesn't want love, and marriage is out of the question. Enid St. John, the Countess of Winston, has never been in love. She certainly hadn't married for it. With the freedom and independence being a widow affords, she'll never marry again. She's had plenty of lovers. After all, one didn't need to be in love to fall into bed with a gorgeous man.

Lady Felicity Hathaway doesn’t want a season, and convinced her father that she doesn’t need one. It took little persuasion, as he didn’t seem inclined to force her debut. At least until her aunt decides her reprieve is at an end and arranges her launch, warranting no discussion on the matter. She’s to find a husband whether or not she likes it. Which she most certainly does not… Well, if her aunt wants her to find a husband, she’s in for a shock. Because seduction and ruination seem like a much better notion in her estimation…

During her ten years at the prestigious Waywroth Academy, Sera Miller clung to a strict code of propriety to shield herself from rumors that she isn’t an orphan at all. She’s a bastard. Now she wishes she had never allowed her friends to talk her into snooping into the mysterious source of her tuition. Her benefactor isn’t the unknown father she dreamed of one day meeting, but Fletcher Thomas—underworld tycoon, gambling den owner, and a man so dangerously mesmerizing that he could spark the scandal Sera has worked so hard to avoid.

Not to be outdone by her sisters' marriage-producing scandals, quiet and withdrawn Madison Banks quickly finds herself walking down the aisle to a man who has secretly loved her for years. Her groom, however, has no idea how to show his new bride that he truly loves her and, following a bungled wedding night, finds himself in a position to either win his wife once and for all or lose her forever. Can he prove himself worthy of her? Will she accept his love? Or will jealousy and past insecurities tear the pair apart?

Though their horse-racing family is as troubled as it is talented, all of the Chandler siblings have found love...except eldest brother Jonah. Married four years ago and abandoned after his wedding night, single-minded Jonah now spends his days training Thoroughbreds—while his lost bride is a family mystery no one dares discuss. And that’s just the way Jonah and his wife, Irene, want it.

Lady Frances Rowley is no ordinary debutante—feisty, intelligent, and determined to forge her own destiny, she faces an unwanted marriage that threatens to bind her to a life she dreads. With her options dwindling, Frances turns to the one person she swore never to ask for help: her scandalous childhood friend, the Duke of Hargate, Johnathan Seton.

In the frost-kissed ambiance of wintry England, where snow blankets the landscape and a Christmas house party twinkles with festive cheer, fate orchestrates an enchanting love story. Lady Elizabeth Breckenridge, an epitome of grace with her golden locks and captivating cerulean eyes, steps into the seasonal revelry, her heart yearning for a love that has eluded her through two bustling social seasons.

Miss Juliet Adams would be living on the streets if not for the kindness of the dowager Countess of Wyndam. Her father died leaving her penniless and without any prospects. The countess offered her a position as her companion and she leapt at the opportunity. She's content with her life, but she's also no fool. She fully realizes a day may come where she won't have the protection of the countess and then where will that leave her? So she's made plans, concessions, none of which includes love or marriage. Until a certain duke makes her question everything...

When the Duke proposes a clandestine alliance to Lady Catherine, her pragmatic nature sees the wisdom in his scheme. While he may be a rogue, he's also a trusted confidant of her brother. Moreover, she remains steadfast in her conviction to resist any rogue's enchantments. Neither harbors matrimonial intentions, and their hearts bear no inclinations toward each other. Their plan appears impeccable—until fate casts an unexpected twist.