To Catch a Scoundrel — Martha Kirkland

A Shocking Wager

Eugenia Bailey was a prim, ladylike schoolteacher with a very un-ladylike talent for cards. When her young cousin lost his fortune to the dastardly Lord Cedric Durham, she devised a plan to win it back. All Eugenia needed were flirting lessons-- to charm her way into the game. So, she called on the wealthy Nathaniel Seymour-- an infamous lover of women--for help.

Nathaniel had never heard of such a ridiculous proposal--and would have turned the becoming young lady down flat. But he had his own score to settle with the lecherous Durham. In no time at all, his innocent young pupil was mastering the looks, words and coy tricks that helped her blossom into a beautiful, beguiling woman. Her newly learned charms were hard to resist. The passion between them was impossible to deny. And as the day came closer for Eugenia to play against the coldhearted Durham, Nathaniel began to wonder if their plan wasn't much too dangerous-- for his own heart....