Thrown together by the investigation, passion quickly replaces antipathy, and the fires that have been simmering for six years flame out of control. But when the unfortunate women in their care begin to turn up dead, Cecilia and Delacourt put aside their animosity to discover who is preying on their defenseless charges. Years later when fate intervenes in the form of Delacourt's interfering brother-in-law, Cole Amherst, from Carlyle's earlier novel A Woman Scorned, Cecilia, now the widowed countess of Walrafen, once again encounters her nemesis Delacourt in the most unlikely of places, running a shelter for rehabilitated prostitutes in London's slums. But Cecilia wants nothing to do with the womanizing lord and refuses his troth, much to Delacourt's surprise and even dismay. Caught in a compromising position with the virtuous virago, the reportedly disreputable Delacourt does the honorable thing and offers to marry Cecilia. 'synopsis' may belong to another edition of this title.Īnother romp of a tale from rising star Liz Carlyle! David, the dissolute Lord Delacourt, happens upon the mistress of his dreams, complete with flame gold hair and a couple of, ahem, other attributes that lead Delacourt to nickname this vision of female pulchritude 'Peaches.' But he quickly discovers that his perfect woman is no fille de joie no, she's Lady Cecilia Markham-Sands, a genteel if impoverished young woman very much on the marriage mart. Can a profligate knave persuade a virtuous woman that he is worthy of her trust - and her love? When treachery closes in, only he knows how to guard Cecilia from the consequences of her own principles. But he's a man who honors his wagers - and one result lands him in his brother-in-law's godforsaken mission, face-to-face with the woman who has long haunted his dreams.

It's whispered that the womanizing Delacourt is vain, vindictive, and merciless.

Just six years earlier, Delacourt had proven himself to be the immoral rake society called him, nearly ruining her reputation in the bargain. But when the dashing Lord Delacourt takes control, she feels an uncharacteristic urge to flee. In the lonely months since her husband's death, Cecilia Lorimer has hidden her emptiness by devoting herself to a charity mission for the unfortunate women of London's slums. From the grandeur of regency Mayfair to the dark danger of London's East End, Liz Carlyle sweeps you away with a powerful story of a love born against all odds, as an honorable young widow stands fast against the cynical rogue who seems determined to consume her, heart and soul.

A Woman of Virtue by Liz Carlyle