Previously available as A Secret Desire.
In Shakespearean London, falling in love just became the greatest scandal of all...
Just when Leo, Baron Warhurst, thinks his family’s financial situation can’t get any worse, he discovers that his unwed sister is pregnant. The Warhurst estate is already crumbling thanks to Leo’s father, and unless Leo can make a match with a wealthy heiress, his family will be ruined. Such are the dire straits that bring the ambitious nobleman to the White Swan Inn, where he must suffer the indignity of asking a common seamstress for help spying on his sister’s lover.
Yet Alice Croft is anything but common. She is low-born, yes, but also strong-willed, clever, confident, and bears a luminous beauty Leo cannot ignore. Leo knows that even the mere rumor of a liaison between them could ruin his marriage prospects, but the harder he fights against her, the stronger their attraction grows—until Leo is forced to choose between the woman who stole his heart and the family that demands his honor.
In this unforgettable follow-up to Her Secret Desire, Lord Warhurst’s turbulent love story unfolds with all the wit, passion, and drama that C. J. Archer’s growing legion of fans have come to expect.
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"This was a great book even though I hadn't read the first in the series, it was great as a stand alone. Alice was a great herione, and Leo was a great hero. The setting in Elizabethian England was nice for a change."
— Michele (4 out of 5 stars)
" Good Book I like the author having read her medium triology "
— Penny, 11/25/2013" The second book in this series and rather enjoyable. Kept me interested with like able characters. A good light read. "
— Alyssa, 4/20/2013" A refreshing change from the usual periods of historical romance. Engaging characters, believable plot, happy ending! "
— Michelle, 12/19/2012" Enjoyed this book so very much. Humor, funny, romantic, great story line. Loved the characters, they had so much character!!! Will read more of C.J. Archer's books. "
— Kathy, 12/6/2012" A nice follow up to the first Lord Hawkesbury's players, but not good enough to stand on it's own. If you read book 1, you might enjoy this one. "
— Candace, 11/11/2012" I really liked Alice and I'm glad she got a story and a HEA! "
— Rachel-, 10/28/2012" This is the first C.J. Archer book that I've read. I enjoyed it. Leo and Alice were good together and I liked them both. "
— Steven, 10/28/2012C. J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person, and technical writer, but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. Her first historical fantasy series, the Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy, has sold over 45,000 copies and garnered rave reviews.
Justine Eyre is a classically trained actress who has narrated many audiobooks, earning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She is multilingual and known for her great facility with accents. She has appeared on stage, with leading roles in King Lear and The Crucible, and has had starring roles in four films on the indie circuit. Her television credits include Two and a Half Men and Mad Men.