The Adventuress — Ann Barker

Florence Browne lives in poverty with her miserly father, who cruelly intends to leave her destitute after his death. But, he cannot know that the seemingly worthless shares he bequeaths to Florence will appreciate, leaving her mistress of a fortune. Longing for adventure she goes to Bath under the assumed name Lady Firenza Le Grey. Once there, she begins to enjoy life until a man calling himself Sir Vittorio Le Grey appears and accuses her of being an adventuress. Convinced that he is a scoundrel, she longs to unmask him but is hampered by the fact that she herself is living under an assumed name. And then her only previous suitor, Gilbert Stapleton, visits Bath unexpectedly. Now Florence is plagued by doubts. Is Sir Vittorio really the wicked Italian that he appears to be? Are Mr Stapleton's professions of love sincere? And how can she accept an offer of marriage from anyone while she is still living a lie?