A Valentine's Day Fancy — Julie Caille

HEART'S DESIRE

Valentina Jardine had always looked forward to Valentine's Day for it was also her birthday. However, this year promised to be rather different than most, for her cousin Libby was determined to play matchmaker at the Valentine s Day Ball. Unfortunately, cousin Libby's chosen was none other than Viscount Laverstoke, the very gentleman Tina held responsible for her broken engagement five years before. Tina thought the Viscount to be an arrogant and heartless rake, and was particularly piqued to discover that he thought of her as just another avaricious fortune hunter. She would never give her heart to such a man, although his wavy golden hair and cool gray eyes were a most attractive sight indeed!

HEARTS DELIGHT

A plague upon all women! thought Gerard Marchant, Viscount Laverstoke. As an eligible and wealthy bachelor he was too often besieged by scheming females eager to trap him in marriage, an his newest guest, Miss Valentina Jardine, seemed just such a one. Marchant knew he could thwart her plans, but as he spent more time with the lovely Tina, amidst all the preparations for the Valentine's Day festivities, he began to wonder if marriage might not be a most satisfactory plan after all!

Hero: Gerard Marchant, Viscount Laverstoke
Heroine: Miss Valentina Jardine