A Clandestine Courtship — Allison Lane

A Bitter Homecoming

It had been many years since James had seen England. The murder of his twin brother had brought him home and shifted the responsibilities of the earldom of Ridgeway onto his own broad shoulders. Saddened by the circumstances of his return, he intends nevertheless to perform his duties, chief among them to identify his brother's killer.

There is only one advantage, it seems, to this homecoming -- the opportunity, once again, to gaze into Mary Layton's bottomless blue eyes. But too much has changed in his years away. The young beauty is now Lady Northrup, the baron's widow. Those lovely eyes now look upon him with confusion, perhaps even mistrust. Not wonder, with the horrid rumors that swirl about his head -- and the dastardly reputation his brother has left him to live down.

Under these wretched circumstance, love is simply not a possibility. But Mary's courageous heart will remind him that passion never gives up the fight...

Hero: James Underwood, Earl of Ridgeway
Heroine: Mary Layton