Almost a Princess — Elizabeth Thornton

Case Devere, the steely-eyed earl of Castleton, has agreed to help Special Branch track down a notorious killer--one who just happens to be his archenemy. But he finds more than he bargained for when his search leads him to Jane Mayberry, a beautiful bluestocking passionately devoted to the cause of women's rights--and to protecting her privacy. As irresistible as she is uncooperative, the spirited Jane arouses Case's interest--as well as his worst suspicions--when she quietly disappears. Determined to find the one woman who may hold the key to his investigation--and to his heart--Case goes after her.

Though their sparring belies an attraction too powerful to deny, Jane knows there can never be anything between herself and the strong-willed earl. For she bears a dark and terrifying secret that must remain hidden--even at the cost of a broken heart. As Case fights for the love of the one woman who has ever mattered to him, they are swept into a deadly game by a killer who won't stop until he has punished them both.