Sinopsis

A Hidden Beauty

Lucinda Cardington doesn’t care that she is close to being "on the shelf." She has more serious pursuits in mind and is perfectly content to leave dreams of romance to silly young ladies like her sister. Yet when her sister places herself in a compromising situation with London’s most scandalous bachelor, the entire family’s reputation comes perilously close to ruin. Suddenly Lucinda is in the limelight . . . and in need of a husband.

James Simpson’s rakish ways have finally caught up with him. Snared in a scandal that for once is not his doing, he is forced to do the honorable thing and offer marriage to the lady. But her father won’t agree to a dowry unless James can also find a suitable husband for the lady’s elder sister-quiet, reserved Lucinda Cardington. As James gets to know the vibrant, charming, and passionate woman behind Lucinda’s shy exterior, he comes to the distressing realization that he doesn’t want her in anyone’s arms but his own . . .

"Delamere weaves rich historical detail into a lovely, poignant romance of faith, trust, and second chances."

-Katharine Ashe, author of When a Scot Loves a Lady,* *

on An Heiress at Heart

**

Review

"The scintillating Love’s Grace trilogy conclusion (after A Lady Most Lovely) unearths the true character of one of the most roguish men in 1853London. James Simpson, a "good-for-nothing lazy scoundrel" who’s"neither wealthy nor respectable," has been content to spend the seasonflirting with vivacious debutante Emily Cardington and has managed tomostly avoid her bookish older sister, Lucinda, who’s much moreinterested in photography than marriage. When the two young women areembroiled in a public scandal, James sees no way out other than tooffer marriage to Emily. While he was initially attracted to Emily’sstunning beauty, James soon finds Lucinda’s quiet beauty andintelligence much more alluring than Emily’s petulance. But before James can secure Emily’s hand in marriage--and her substantial dowry--LordCardington instructs him to help Lucinda find a suitable husband andescape otherwise inevitable spinsterhood. When James realizes that hemight have offered for the wrong sister, he must decide whether heshould risk all to follow his heart. The romantic dance between Jamesand Lucinda sparkles with wit, intellect, and subtle desire in defianceof societal expectations."-Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover