So she leases the Dower House from a kindly baron on a neighboring estate, believing that she has successfully met the greatest challenge of her life.How wrong she is! The kindly baron dies. An orphan arrives, whom Katherine accepts as her nephew. She is determined to provide for him, which means she must forget about love and marry a gentleman with money.There are three possibilities.Her cousin, Sir Clive Brampton, is eager to let bygones be bygones and marry Katherine. She would be able to return to her family home and live a life of financial ease. Her nephew would be provided for and launched into a career deemed suitable by Sir Clive. Can Katherine just accept Sir Clive’s generous offer?The Reverend Mr. Augustus Wharton, the newly arrived vicar, listens attentively to Katherine’s anguished musings over the loss of her brother on a distant battlefield in Spain. There are rumors that Mr. Wharton’s present vocation is a stunning contrast to his past as a hard drinking, gambling rake. Katherine dismisses the rumors and wonders if she could live happily with a man for whom she feels only sisterly affection.Finally, there is the new baron, Lord Henry Dracott. Lord Harry, as he is called, is clearly attracted to Katherine. But in spite of their best efforts to be civil to each other, their disagreements end up in arguments. Although there is mutual attraction, Katherine knows that Lord Harry’s heart is buried with his dead wife.Katherine tries to be a sensible lady and accept a practical marriage. But will her heart let her?

     Could a mysterious stranger be the answer to Diana’s prayers…? 1809, England After the death of Sir Peter Chalfont his daughter, Diana, and her mother were left nearly penniless and at the mercy of their relative Sir Sidney, who inherited the Chalfont estate. Sir Sidney had no plans to retire to the countryside from his frivolous life in London and the women were allowed to remain at Chesdene Manor. But with no money for upkeep, the grand building soon fell into disrepair. Intelligent and headstrong, Diana is determined to take her future into her own hands. She advertises for a tenant in the hope of supplying herself with an income. But who is the strange man who agrees to the lease? Why does he seem to have a particular interest in the building? And how long can Diana keep her home before the rakish Sir Sidney returns to claim it…? TENANT OF CHESDENE MANOR is a classic Regency Romance by Alice Chetwynd Ley: a traditional British, historical adventure story with a twist of suspense and mystery, set during the Napoleonic Wars. ‘Alice’s books were amongst the first Regencies I ever read and I’ve loved them ever since’ – The Word Wenches ‘These vintage Regency romances hover somewhere between Jane Austen and the genre as we know it today. I really enjoy them.’ - Sonya’s Stuff

     How long can Sarah keep up her charade? Regency England Orphaned and unable to support her younger brother, Sarah Ridgemont seeks the aid of her wealthy but long-estranged grandfather, Sir Hector Ridgemont. However, fearing immediate dismissal, she decides to disguise herself as his new housekeeper until she feels able to ask for his help. But when Sir Hector’s formidable neighbour, Viscount Mark Eversley, sees through Sarah’s ruse, it seems to be only a matter of time before her true identity is revealed. And under the intense gaze of the dashing viscount, Sarah finds it increasingly difficult to keep her secret — and her heart — intact… The General’s Granddaughter by Dorothy Mack is a classic Regency romance full of suspense and intrigue.

    The previous earl, Christopher, now deceased, had convinced Helen that his cousin Edward was no good. But Edward is willing to investigate Helen’s claims—and finds himself enchanted by this determined woman. Regency Romance by Anne Barbour; originally published by Signet

    But Lady Meg also enjoyed being immensely wealthy, and by the terms of the late Earl of Barringham's will, she would soon have to marry or give up her fortune.Then she found herself challenged by a man as stubbornly devoted to his bachelorhood as she was to her own willful ways...

    High-spirited and unconventional, she is more a worthy adversary than a blushing bride--a fact made all too clear to the Earl of Hyatt when he comes to call. Well-favored, wellbred, and well-financed, the Earl is nicknamed "The Ideal" by an enraptured society, especially those members with daughters to wed. But his long bachelorhood has ended in an engagement that may end in a mystery, for his fiancee has disappeared ....Upon meeting the boorish earl, Maylene is convinced the girl ran off with good reason ...until his lips claim hers in a breathtaking kiss! Caught off her guard, Maylene believes she has lost her mind as well as her manners. But she and the nonplused nobleman form a heated alliance, sparring with words and succumbing to passion. Soon, Maylene begins to curse her inborn talent because the more time she spends in the Earl's embrace, the more she wished his betrothed to remain lost.

    When she arrives in London late in the Season, she has high hopes of making a match. She has already attracted a long list of potential suitors, all of whom have noteworthy prospects. To help in making the difficult decision, she invites them all to a Country House party just after the Season's end. But before any future husband of Lady Augusta's can approach her for her hand, he must also gain the approval of her family. And that may prove to be more difficult than expected, as one by one, whether self-implicated, aided by another, or by sheer circumstance, each of her suitors discredit themselves. It will take a true Gentleman of Worth to capture Lady Augusta's heart.

    And with dismay Regina realized that now she herself was the target of this man who made love a game he would break any rule to win.But Regina's hard-won wisdom was soon warring with the folly of her heart -- -and only iron resolve would safeguard her from the maddeningly dangerous charms of the most infuriatingly romantic nobleman in all the realm. . . .

    No one could guess she had been forced to take a position in trade—or that she had come to the Earl of Auden’s estate to entice him into naming her dismayingly disagreeable cousin Anthony heir to a fortune that she then could share.But Elizabeth had stiff competition for the Earl’s imperious favor…from the schemingly seductive Lady Isabel Courtney and her odious little boy, Owen…from the implacably upright Richard Courtney and his unfortunate honesty…and from the memory of the Earl’s first wife, who had made him despise women who deceived.Elizabeth knew she could never reveal the truth to the Earl—even when she forgot about gaining his fortune and began losing her heart….

    In turn, the Duke is suspicious of Pandora's motives when she applies for the position of governess to the young orphans in his charge. Pandora has greater worries when she must sell her beloved late mother's necklace to help support her young brothers. But the intervention of Heron in the sale has surprising and far reaching consequences. As Heron observes Pandora in society, he finds himself attracted to the capable and strong-willed young woman. What would she make of a proposal of a highly respectable marriage? Meanwhile, Lady Sarah Bingly has set her sights on becoming Duchess of Heron. And it is clear that she will stop at nothing to make sure Pandora doesn't stand in her way.

    But to Octavia Gray, her plumpish, rather plain cousin, just to able to leave her busy home, where the hum of political discourse dominates all conversations, and see the countryside for the first time, is an adventure.At Cotehele are only Tavy's languid aunt, her sullen cousin, and Julia's once-rejected suitor whose next proposal her parents hope will be accepted. Julia has no time for the engaging (and wealthy) Sir Tristram Deanbridge, however. To her cousin's half-listening ears, Julia must eternally sing the praises of her beloved. The young man, a gentleman without means, is a political radical whose essays, if not his actions, are fiery. An odd choice, indeed, for a diehard Tory's butterfly daughter, but who can predict where a heart might light?Octavia, summoned to be company for Julia, doesn't have an easy task. Julia wants her sympathy and her help in furthering the forbidden romance with James. Sir Tristram looks to her for reassurance that his chances are still alive. And Octavia finds to her distress that --- dare we tell? --- she herself has a growing romantic interest in the delightful Sir Tristram, although he, alas, is smitten by the uncaring Julia.In spite of all this, there are more adventures for Octavia than merely a change of scene. Before she even reaches the estate, she witnesses a smuggling raid and meets a smuggler himself, once more intriguing than ominous. Shortly after her arrival, Julia's maid transforms her appearance quite astonishingly, and the stay continues to provide a series of exciting adventures and misadventures that the most city-weary young women could wish for. There are searches by the King's men, a fall into the sea (and rescue by the combined efforts of a group of smugglers and a pod of dolphins), secret rooms and passageways, a wounded fugitive to be hidden and nursed, and even a visit by a glittering party of the ton. And although it appears at times that there is no way for true love to win out, do not despair, dear reader. Read on with hope.

    His neighbor Rosamund tries desperately to bring him back from the brink of despair, but the beastly young duke fights her every step of the way. His feelings for her deepen, and when she departs for London, he vows to regain his health and woo her properly. Unfortunately, she disappears before he has the chance.Rosamund is admired and praised as a mannequin for an exclusive London modiste, but her life is empty without the man to whom she gave her heart. Now, just when happiness seems within her grasp, jealous rivals conspire to ruin her dreams.Can a beastly duke and a beautiful mannequin ever achieve a fairytale ending?

     Albertine 'Tina' Newton knows her worth. The most beautiful girl of the Season, she knew she was born to grace a nobler establishment. And she has her sights set on the perfect husband: Lord Skirlaugh, the heir to the Duke of Byram. Scarred, disillusioned, and cynical, Skirlaugh must nonetheless marry to ensure the succession. He neither expected nor desired love; just a well-bred conformable wife with a reasonable dowry. Tina is certain that there is no one to outshine her. But when her cousin Thea inherits a fortune, she also becomes a contender for Skirlaugh's attention. Then, after meeting on a roadside when both stopped to aid a young man with a badly injured horse, it seems that Thea and Skirlaugh have more potential than Tina thinks... But which aspiring débutante will please his critical taste? Mira Stables is the author of many historical fiction novels, including The Swynden Necklace and Golden Barrier.

    Allegra has longed for the return of her soldier husband. But when the war ends, he is more distant than ever. After months of trying to reach him, she leaves to chaperone her husband-hunting younger sister at a duchess’s house party. Only then does Nicholas know that to win her, he must leave the war behind and truly come home to her for good.Note: First appeared in the Zebra Regency anthology Lessons in Love in 1994 under the title "Allegra"

    Jane went to her aunt, having no idea that the housekeeper had married Lord Pargeter, who promptly died. Neighbors at nearby Swann Hall were suspicious about the will, and Lord Fenwick, a visitor, decided to investigate. Though Jane’s past hinted of scandal, Fenwick was intrigued. Regency Romance by Joan Smith; originally published by Fawcett Crest