The Troublemaker

The exotic island of Madeira is the perfect escape for an Englishwoman fleeing an arranged marriage—until she's taken captive by a vengeful pirate One of the wealthiest heiresses in England, Eliza Thoroughgood is the ideal catch for the right man. But the husband her parents have chosen for her is a paragon of masculinity and urbane wit, while Eliza is shy and bookish and detests the public eye. So she comes up with the perfect escape from the perfect bridegroom: She will accompany her young cousin, Aubrey, to the sultry island of Madeira, where he can recuperate from a riding injury. Eliza has never been to sea, and she's in for the adventure of her life when she and Aubrey are taken hostage by a vengeful buccaneer. Cyprian Dare has waited his whole life to destroy the nobleman who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. He doesn't believe in fate or luck—until the Lady Haberton sails out of port, setting in motion his abduction of his half-brother Lord Haberton's heir. But he hadn't planned on the boy's beautiful, fiercely protective cousin. Desire is the wild card as Eliza awakens emotions Cyprian has never allowed himself to feel before. Can a woman's loving touch heal the heart of a man who lives only for revenge? A nobleman of illegitimate birth is determined to give society its comeuppance—but a spirited woman may change his mind about love and marriage. With revenge in his soul, Ivan Thornton, the rakehell known as the Gypsy bastard, cuts a swath across London, leaving broken hearts in his wake. But the newly entitled Earl of Westcott—and the most eligible bachelor in the city—hasn't even begun to punish society for turning its back on him when he was a child, making him suffer for the sins of his father. A spinster possessing neither title nor fortune, Lucy Drysdale knows that her sharp repartee and intellectual curiosity frighten off potential husbands. In London to chaperone the sheltered young cousin of the Earl of Westcott through her first social season, she plans to attend lectures given by the world-class expert in psychology with whom she's been secretly corresponding. Instead she finds herself clashing with an arrogant, uncivilized nobleman who is handsomer than sin and awakens passionate feelings in her. Vowing to keep her wits about her, Lucy dares the unthinkable: taming a man whom society deems too dangerous to love. A SPINSTER Spirited scholar Lucy Drysdale has long dreamed of London --- the stimulating lectures, the intellectual banter. But first she must chaperone Lady Valerie, a tender young girl embarking on her first social season. A RAKEHELL Before Lucy can guide Valerie through her first society crush, they are swept into the world of the Earl of Westcott, London's most notorious rakehell. A DANGEROUS GAME OF HEARTS Ivan Thornton, the gypsy Earl, gained his title only because his father had no legitimate heir. Bitter over the cruelties society heaped on him when he was just a boy, Ivan takes sweet revenge --- he breaks the hearts of young society women. WINNER TAKE ALL For Ivan, the two women are easy prey for his game of deceit --- until Lucy's passionate touch ignites a desire that sears his soul. And Lucy finds, in protecting Valerie from the charismatic Earl, that she has left her own heart dangerously vulnerable. 1996-97 RT Reviewers' Choice -- Victorian Historical Romance Sarah Palmer, a reckless beauty with a penchant for trouble, has enraged her family for the last time with her foiled plan to elope with a fortune hunter. Sent to stay with her married half-sister in the Scottish countryside, Sarah arrives there only to learn that her sister has gone away to Glasgow. With no one to chaperone her, she is immensely relieved at her newfound freedom and vows to redeem herself in the eyes of her family by behaving for once. But she hasn't reckoned on Marshall MacDougal, the most irresistible and troublesome man she has ever met ... An American surrounded in mystery, Marshall MacDougal has come to Scotland searching for justice--and vengeance. He is captivated by Sarah and she by him, though she tried to resist. But then Sarah discovers that her own mother and half-sister are the target's of Marsh's vengeance. Old secrets, new scandals, and hocking revelations turn seduction into a devious game, where passion has a price .. Spirited scholar Lucy Drysdale has long dreamed of London-- the stimulating lectures, the intellectual banter. But first she much chaperone Lade Valerie, a tender young girl embarking on her first social season. Before Lucy can guide Valerie through her first society crush, they are swept into the world of the Earl of Westcott, London's most notorious rakehell. Ivan Thornton, the gypsy Earl, gained his title only because his father had no legitimate heir. Bitter over the cruelties society heaped on him when he was just a boy, Ivan takes sweet revenge-- he breaks the hearts of young society women. For Ivan, the two women are easy prey for his game of deceit-- until Lucy's passionate touch ignites a desire that sears his soul. And Lucy finds, in protecting Valerie from the charismatic Earl, that she has left her own heart dangerously vulnerable... A bid for freedom... The lush, misty island of Madeira seemed a perfect escape from an unwanted bridegroom for shy, bookish heiress Eliza Thoroughgood. Ambushed by desire... But barely have they arrived when she and her frail young cousin Aubrey find themselves captive on the exotic vessel of Cyprian Darea man whose bold hands and even bolder mouth arouse a tiny, wicked part of Eliza. An exquisite revenge... Cyprian never forgave the man who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. Now that man's heir, the boy Aubrey, will be his instrument of revengehowever furiously the beautiful Eliza guards him. Foiled by an ecstatic love... For Cyprian, it will be an easy matter to tame this lovely innocent in the sweet, dark seaswept night...until Eliza's passionate heart challenges him to a choice he could never have foreseen. Born in shame... All her life the ravishing Linnea de Valcourt has been reviled as the "cursed" daughter of Maindenstone Castle. Redeemed by deceit... Now, to save her beloved twin sister from a terrible fate, she will sacrifice herself by impersonating her as the bride of conqueror Axton de la Manse. Yet how is it that she feels such fiery passion when she lies with this grim despoiler of her home? A hostage to love... Revenge for years of exile has driven the magnificent Axton to possess his archenemy's daughter-little knowing that, as he imprisons her in his arms and drowns in her stormy sea-green eyes, he is throwing away the key to his soul. But Linnea's family, gathering forces to reclaim Maidenstone, will soon reveal their trickery. How can she hide from him the truth about his imposter's bride? Born In Shame ... All Her Life The Ravishing Linnea De Valcourt Has Been Reviled As The Cursed Daughter Of Maindenstone Castle. Redeemed By Deceit ... Now, To Save Her Beloved Twin Sister From A Terrible Fate, She Will Sacrifice Herself By Impersonating Her As The Bride Of Conqueror Axton De La Manse. Yet How Is It That She Feels Such Fiery Passion When She Lies With This Grim Despoiler Of Her Home? A Hostage To Love ... Revenge For Years Of Exile Has Driven The Magnificent Axton To Possess His Archenemy's Daughter-little Knowing That, As He Imprisons Her In His Arms And Drowns In Her Stormy Sea-green Eyes, He Is Throwing Away The Key To His Soul. Rexanne Becnel. The formal dining room at Diamond Hall was Eliza's least favorite room in her parents's London residence.