Rich, handsome and well-born, the Duke of Staynes might have had his pick all the most charming debutantes in London for more Seasons than he cares to remember. Yet it has been so long since even the loveliest girl has caused his pulses to quicken one jot, that when he meets Angel Graham, a beautiful innocent in distress, he resolves not to let her vanish from his life. But, having accepted his assistance, Angel fails to keep an assignation and the Duke begins to suspect a mystery.
Angel does not know whether to be glad or sorry when her efforts to escape the Duke prove unsuccessful. But once she is in his power, she learns that Staynes has as many secrets as she, and he has a use for her and her scapegrace brother.
From the fashionable assemblies of Almacks to the shadowy world of espionage, Staynes and Angel must set aside the rising tide of passion that threatens to overwhelm them and work together instead to save England from the menace of treason within the very highest circles of the Ton.
Genre: FICTION / Romance / RegencyTraditionally 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 Gilman
1982 Jove Paperbacks New York: The Cautious Heart writing as Philippa Heywood (New York Times bestseller)
1982 - 2011 comedy scripts and journalism in London
2011 - 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
It was close on midnight, and Tristan Radleigh, eighth Duke of Staynes, having returned early from a particularly dull soiree, was seated at his desk in the library. It was a handsome apartment, the walls lined with the collected volumes of many generations. The present duke, however, had banished the formality of earlier ages. There were comfortable winged armchairs on either side of the fireplace where logs crackled and shot forth blue flames in the grate. He had consigned the gloomy portraits of his ancestors to the lumber room, leaving only a three-quarter portrait of a lady in the dress of about thirty years earlier. Her strong resemblance to the Duke was a clue, if any had needed it, to her identity.
Staynes was reading through some documents pressed upon him for his approval by the agent of his vast estates in the North during the course of a recent visit. It appeared they were very dull, for he yawned frequently and raked his hand through his thick dark hair where it fell across his brow. He had discarded his coat and ripped off the snowy cravat upon the arrangement of which he had spent some considerable time earlier in the evening.
Presently, he leaned back in his chair and stretched his aching back. He slipped the papers into the top draw of his desk, picked up the candlestick to light him to his chamber, and moved towards the door. Just then, his attention was caught by a soft knocking at the outer door. This was unusual enough to pique his interest, and he listened as the sleepy porter trod across the hallway to answer it. He heard a soft, feminine voice, the porter’s flat negative, and the woman again. She appeared to be pleading with the servant. Intrigued, Tristan opened the door and glanced out into the hall.
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Italian
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Already translated.
Translated by Daniele Giuffrè
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Portuguese
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Already translated.
Translated by Natalia Maya
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Spanish
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Already translated.
Translated by Ana Maria Castroviejo
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