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When Mary Blackmore was a romantic young lass of 17 in Scotland, she married the man of her dreams. Sebastian Edmunds agreed to the marriage to gain his father the Earl of FoxboroughÆs approval to join WellingtonÆs army and fight Napoleon. After a tumultuous wedding night he disappears. The next seven years are disastrous for Mary, after her father first loses his estates and then his mind. Mary decides to journey with her father and faithful servants to FoxboroughÆs manor and appeal to the old Earl for help. Along the way her maid Yvette dies in childbirth, and when YvetteÆs husband kills himself in despair Mary finds herself with a child to care for. Worse, she arrives at FoxboroughÆs manor to find the old Earl dead. The new Earl of Foxborough doesnÆt believe sheÆs EdmundÆs wife, and she has nothing to prove her claim. The most he will do is give her a cottage and small patch of land to farm, and itÆs up to her to care for her two dependents. So as not to anger the new Earl, Mary resumes her maiden name and ekes out a living by selling eggs and the products of her little farm. When the local baronet takes an interest in her, Mary believes her luck may have finally turned. She sees no reason to tell him about her marriage to Sebastian, and indeed, SebastianÆs been gone almost long enough for her to declare him officially dead. Just as the baronet is on the verge of proposing, Sebastian appears, dressed as a fop and behaving outrageously. He shows no interest in Mary or in claiming his title. MaryÆs heart sinks. Will she be tied to an irresponsible dandy when she could have had a baronet? Then Sebastian offers her a deal: HeÆll allow her to divorce him on the grounds of desertion, legal in Scotland, if sheÆll keep his true identity secret for a while. Desperate to provide security for her father and ward, Mary agrees, telling the village Sebastian is her cousin. But she wonders about his limp, and the traces of pain and despair she occasionally glimpses in his eyes. Where was he for seven years? And what is he really doing in the village? Could it have anything to do with the smugglers that ply the coast, or the threat of French invasion alarming the populace? As Mary spends more time with Sebastian, her old feelings are rekindled. Though he tries to affect indifference, she can feel the passion rising in him as well. However, too many secrets have to be revealed and explained before either of them can trust each other again. And a growing web of danger surrounds Mary and those she loves as SebastianÆs stay in the village continues. Will these two proud and emotionally scarred people be able to risk another chance at love before itÆs too late?
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The Forgotten Bride
Maureen Mackey
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