A Game of Hearts

In Regency England, red-blooded commoners have difficulty opening the doors of the blue-blooded haut ton

The Self-Made Man

Self-made man Rafe Lockhart needs a titled wife to give his daughter Connie the society debut she has dreamed of. A quick marriage to Lady Margaret Symonds, widow of an earl, is the answer to his problem.  Her beauty and wit sweeten his plan.

The Damaged Widow

Maggie Symonds suffered through twelve years of an emotionally abusive marriage after a rake ruined her during her debut.  She hesitates to enter another marriage, especially to a man whose wealth is the sole reason that society accepts him.  Financial difficulties and her own budding attraction to Rafe drive her to accept his proposal.

A Rosy Future Turns Blood-Red

Neither expects passion to fire up their marriage.  Neither expects that surprising passion to last.

Maggie’s confrontation with Rafe’s mistress is the first blow.

The second comes with Rafe’s suspicions that the rake has lured Maggie back into his bed with protestations of a resumed love.

An Unexpected Love

Falling in love with his employer’s daughter Connie was not Roger Denby’s biggest mistake.  No, that mistake was giving her a taste of passion.  When he rejected Connie, he then had to watch her pursue a gentleman who might be charming her into a snare.

Did Roger drive her into that relationship by awakening her desires?  All he knows is that he still yearns for Connie.  How can he prevent her from ruining herself?

Her Heart Refuses to Break

Connie Lockhart knew the walls between her and Roger Denby:  She was not yet eighteen.  She was the boss’s daughter.  She was as far out of his reach as marriage into nobility was out of hers.

She thought those walls had tumbled down when he kissed her.

Yet he rebuilt them even higher than before and returned to being only her watchdog.  Believing their relationship hopeless, Connie pursues a titled gentleman who is no longer out of her reach since her father’s marriage to an earl’s widow.  And revenge on the snobbish society darlings seems especially sweet.

Then this Game of Hearts turns more dangerous

Rafe is suspected of murdering a valuable employee, and this Game of Hearts twists into unexpected trouble that Rafe & Maggie and Roger & Connie could never have anticipated.

Readers may also enjoy the preceding A Game of Secrets and A Game of Hearts.

 

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