Pirated Heart — Ann Cockcroft

After her father's death in debtor's prison, seventeen-year-old Heather Woode finds herself forced to sign papers of indenture and be shipped off to the rebellious colonies. Arriving in America, she finds herself sold to the libertine Duncan Crawley, who is determined to take advantage of her. Fleeing him, she makes her way to the Somerset estate where, when she awakens from being near death with the flu, she finds herself being mistaken for the lady she had cared for on the ship. When the lady, Miss Southey was dying from influenza, she gave Heather a few of her possessions. Fearing that the alternative is to be turned over to Crawley, Heather begins to masquerade as the lady.

Her life is further complicated by discovering that the man who helped her escape and with whom she is falling in love, Richard Somerset, is the brother of the Somerset son Miss Southey is supposed to marry. He knows her true identity but is himself a Patriot spy and pirate for the rebel's cause and thus also living a double life. Each alone knows the other's secrets, and they soon find themselves involved in a complicated and passionate affair. In the perilous year 1776 this means that disgrace or death is always only a misstep away.