Lady Elizabeth Marlowe, a self-confessed bluestocking, is reluctant to exchange her quiet rural existence for the despised frivolities of the London Season. But when her cousin, the Grand Duchess of Catamanthia, is abducted, she is persuaded take her place at Princess Charlotte’s wedding celebrations. In spite of herself she must also accept the attentions of Lord Matlock, the most attractive man in London, whose motives she strongly suspects.
Meanwhile, the Grand Duchess finds refuge with Colonel Julius Paige, a cavalry officer, terribly injured at the Battle of Waterloo, who must recapture his passion for life if he is to help the woman he loves defeat her enemies.
Two dashing heroes—two willful heroines—and the fate of Europe in their hands.
Traditionally published since 1979, New York Times bestseller 1982, now self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing.
First published in 1979 by Robert Hale, Ltd. London. Titles: Dangerous Masquerade (1979), Gamble With Hearts (1980), writing as Hilary Gilman1982 Jove Paperbacks New York: The Cautious Heart writing as Philippa Heywood (New York Times bestseller)1982 - 2011 comedy scripts and journalism in London2011 - 2016: Regency Romance: Moonlight Masquerade, Mysterious Masquerade, Merry Masquerade, Magical Masquerade, Midsummer Masquerade, Her Foolish Heart, A Match of Hearts, The Captured Heart
Fantasy (as Hilary Lester): Tides of Fire Book I: The Rebellion, Tides of Fire Book II: The Golden Queen
Shooting, on the other hand, she permitted, for one must eat, and she was herself particularly partial to a young pheasant.
‘But, Milady, how are we to preserve yer coverts if you dunna allow fox ‘unting?’ had pleaded her gamekeeper, almost tearfully.
‘Humane traps,’ responded Elizabeth. ‘See, I have drawn a diagram of how it might be done. Try it and see. But there must be no metal teeth; upon that I insist.’
Much to her gamekeeper’s surprise, the traps did work, and her coverts suffered rather less depredations than other local landowners.
The coverts, the castle and, indeed, the entire estate were, in fact, not her property but that of her younger brother, the eleventh Earl, currently enlivening the university with his volatile presence. However, since she was her brother’s guardian and trustee, and he took no interest in the estate, the country people treated Elizabeth as the Squire, and her word was law.
Now, after healthful exercise, Elizabeth was looking forward to a quiet evening working on her great history of the Dumnonii, a tribe of Britons who had inhabited Devonshire until the early Saxon period and had obligingly left remnants of a settlement on the Ridgeway lands. A short extract of this work, now in the hands of her publishers, was expected to be released later that month.
Her aunt, Lady Timperley, had been aghast when she heard of this latest project. ‘Do not, my dear Elizabeth, mention the matter to a soul. They will think you the bluest of blue stockings!’
Elizabeth had given her aunt an engagingly mischievous smile. ‘But that is what I am,’ she pointed out.
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Jessica Monica da Silva
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Ana Maria Castroviejo
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