Widows of the Aristocracy

The Earl of Fennington has a secret identity - that of Mr. Pepperidge, editor of London's premiere gossip rag, The Tattler. While attending a garden party as Fennington, he meets and falls in love with an earl's daughter. The attraction is mutual, for despite knowing better, Lady Emelia allows him to kiss her behind a hedgerow. Who will know but them? When the earl asks permission to marry Emelia, her father denies him, requiring him instead to court Emelia for eight weeks. He's only allowed to see her once each week, however. Desperate to spend more time with her, Fennington devises a scheme in which he'll be able to do just that, but in disguise. Emelia will have to meet Mr. Pepperidge in the park once a week to provide him the on-dit she hears whilst paying calls in Mayfair parlors. That, or he'll print the news of her kiss with Fennington in The Tattler!

Having lost her husband in the Battle of Ligny, Lady Lydia Barrymore is determined to resume her work for the Foreign Office when her mourning period is over. She's spent a year solving puzzles and assembling dissected maps to maintain her skills. Her first assignment has her perplexed, though - do what she must to help a fellow operative recover his sanity. Although she finds the man rather beautiful, Sir Donald has also proved most annoying.

Nothing makes a man more lonely than his secrets. The same might be said for women. Godfrey, Viscount Thorncastle, has a secret he’d rather not tell anyone, including the woman for whom he has held a candle for more than 20 years. Elise Burroughs Batey, the widow of Lord Lancaster, has had enough of marriage, but pining for the chance at motherhood, she may just have to consider Godfrey’s proposal. If he can just get it right. The man has some preconceived notions about his true love, none of which are true. But then, she has some of the same notions about him.