Showing results by author "Charity McColl" in All Categories

For Clara Andrews, death is a season. Daily she visits the grave of her late husband, Tom, who died so soon after their brief marriage. Her grandmother fears that Clara’s grief will make death more appealing than life and that her granddaughter will fall into a decline. When she suggests that Clara accompany her on calls to a friend, Clara agrees out of a sense of obligation.

Rupert, the Marquess of Mercat is the new master of what remains of a once-glorious estate. His father Henry’s misconduct of his life and his land have left Rupert with no choice but to sell as much as possible to pay off his father’s debts and provide for his mother. But the aristocracy all believe that his father’s misdeeds are Rupert’s own, and he is ostracized by them and called ‘the prodigal marquess’.

Helen Collins is beautiful, which makes it very easy for her to get what she wants. And what she wants is a wealthy, handsome husband who will do her bidding. Such gentlemen appear to be in short supply in her home village, as a rancorous evening with Jack Crawford proves when she insults him and he abruptly takes his leave. After an unsatisfactory year as a marriageable belle yields no promising matrimonial candidates, Helen goes to London to spend the Season with her aunt.

Goaded by her mother’s nagging, Ruth declares that she will only marry a man who can beat her in a horse race. As she is an expert horsewoman, her challenge seems unlikely to be met. But family friend Robert Holloway has always loved Ruth, and if it takes a horse race to win her, then an equestrian he will be, even though he is a poor rider. Out of friendship, Ruth agrees to teach him how to ride with skill, never realizing that his goal is to win the race and win her hand in marriage.

Elayne Stanton moves to Ayrshire Park as companion to Baron Cedric Tawnish’s bedridden wife. The Baron’s attraction to young Elayne is apparent, and flaming tongues spread unfounded rumors about Elaine’s unchaste conduct in the Baron’s arms. None of it true. Despite the rumors the Baron conducts himself honorably towards Miss Stanton, until one night, he stumbles into the house with apparently lascivious intentions toward the innocent girl.

Twins Lydia and Catherine Reed are identical in appearance, but not in dreams. Catherine longs for love and marriage, easily fitting into the pattern of the proper regency young lady. But for her twin sister Lydia, society’s restrictions on females prevent her from pursuing her interests in such unladylike subjects as science, anatomy, and philosophy.