Riddle Saga Series by Patricia Veryan

WHICH WAS MORE INTRIGUING-- THE GRAND ESTATE OR THE FEISTY FEMALE? When Captain Jack Vespa suffers a head injury in battle, he chooses to recuperate at his family's estate, the dilapidated--some say haunted--Alabaster Royal. It is there he meets, in a rather surprising fashion, Lady Francesca and her lovely, if volatile granddaughter, Miss Consuela Jones. Determined to discover who murdered Consuela's father, it seems these two interlopers have made themselves at home... moreWHICH WAS MORE INTRIGUING-- THE GRAND ESTATE OR THE FEISTY FEMALE? When Captain Jack Vespa suffers a head injury in battle, he chooses to recuperate at his family's estate, the dilapidated--some say haunted--Alabaster Royal. It is there he meets, in a rather surprising fashion, Lady Francesca and her lovely, if volatile granddaughter, Miss Consuela Jones. Determined to discover who murdered Consuela's father, it seems these two interlopers have made themselves at home. The mystery, Consuela avows, has to do with this estate. And much to his dismay, Jack indeed discovers some devilish doings at the old manse. Moreover, he cannot help but discern that the lovely Consuela is as enticing as the riddle of Alabaster Royal! Patricia Veryan is a winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times less

Captain Jack Vespa, and aide-de-camp of Lord Wellington's in the battle against Napoleon, is sent home from Spain after having been badly wounded. While he's convalescing, Jack, his military friends, and a spirited young lady from a neighboring estate, Consuela Jones, become embroiled in, and then successfully foil, a murderous scheme to defraud the government. In the process, Jack discovers that his own father was behind the terrible plot... moreCaptain Jack Vespa, and aide-de-camp of Lord Wellington's in the battle against Napoleon, is sent home from Spain after having been badly wounded. While he's convalescing, Jack, his military friends, and a spirited young lady from a neighboring estate, Consuela Jones, become embroiled in, and then successfully foil, a murderous scheme to defraud the government. In the process, Jack discovers that his own father was behind the terrible plot. Or was he? When confronted with his crime, Sir Kendrick Vespa callously informs Jack that he is not Jack's father; that Jack is in fact the product of an affair between his mother, Lady Faith Vespa, and her lover. Jack then vows to find out the true identity of his father--a mission that is fraught with false leads and disappointments. Finally, with the help of Consuela and her grandmother, a fiery Italian duchess, Jack traces a nobleman who just may be his real father. Lord Kincraig, the gentleman in question, proves to be an enigma, though, obsessed with what seems to be fantastical tales of a "flying carpet" and a priceless jeweled rug that was cut into pieces and lost many centuries earlier. Jack and his faithful friends must follow "the mad rug collector" into dangerous enemy territory, face strange and terrifying adversaries, and even risk losing one another to find the truth. With this exciting sequel to The Riddle of Alabaster Royal, the "reigning queen of period romance" (Romantic Times) Patricia Veryan outdoes even herself. less

Captain Jack Vespa, hero of THE RIDDLE OF ALABASTER ROYAL, returns in another of Patricia Veryan's delightful Regency tales mixing romance and suspense.

Court-martialed after a night on leave lands him in bed with an unwed young lady of Quality, Lieutenant-Colonel Hastings Adair faces the ultimate disgrace and is dishonorably discharged from service. All the while, though, Adair proclaims his innocence, saying that he met Miss Alice Prior at a ball, and after a pleasant chat, she sent him a desperate note asking him asking him to see her home. He obliged, of course, and his last recollection of that evening was of getting into the carriage... moreCourt-martialed after a night on leave lands him in bed with an unwed young lady of Quality, Lieutenant-Colonel Hastings Adair faces the ultimate disgrace and is dishonorably discharged from service. All the while, though, Adair proclaims his innocence, saying that he met Miss Alice Prior at a ball, and after a pleasant chat, she sent him a desperate note asking him asking him to see her home. He obliged, of course, and his last recollection of that evening was of getting into the carriage. Abandoned by his family and all but a few friends, Adair sets out to find the lady he is accused of having ruined. Mysteriously, though, Alice Prior has disappeared. After a wild chase that has Adair fighting for his life more than once, Miss Prior is finally found-forcefully married to the rogue that abducted her. As his wife, she is unable to testify against him, but Adair and his faithful friends, Paige Manderville and Toby Broderick, devise a risky trap that not only catches the rogue, but foils a dangerous political plot as well. This is the third installment in "genre master" (Publishers Weekly) Patricia Veryan's acclaimed Regency series, begun with THE RIDDLE OF ALABASTER ROYAL and followed by THE RIDDLE OF THE LOST LOVER, and her fans will instantly recognize her signature mix of heart-stopping suspense and delightful romantic adventure here. less

Elspeth Clayton's family has been living in considerably reduced circumstances, and to improve their finances, her brother Vance becomes a soldier of fortune. His assignments take him to France, where he is caught up in political intrigues. Injured in an attempt to escape a troop of dragoons, he is arrested and held in a French gaol for questioning and probable execution... moreElspeth Clayton's family has been living in considerably reduced circumstances, and to improve their finances, her brother Vance becomes a soldier of fortune. His assignments take him to France, where he is caught up in political intrigues. Injured in an attempt to escape a troop of dragoons, he is arrested and held in a French gaol for questioning and probable execution.In an effort to save her beloved brother, Elspeth turns first to his best friend and then to her most devoted suitor, but both are prevented from coming to her aid. Meanwhile, she has unintentionally antagonized Gervaise Valerian, a quick-tempered dandy, much admired in Town, but whom she finds far from enchanting. Valerian has devised a daring plan to smuggle his father, a fugitive from justice, out of England. When his accomplice in the scheme is rendered helpless, he blames Elspeth.Despite their mutual antipathy, they are each desperate to aid their loved ones, and with considerable reluctance they eventually decide to work together. Hunted by authorities on both sides of the Channel and pursued by unknown assassins, their efforts are fraught with danger but they persist with their struggle, in the course of which their feelings for each other undergo a marked change. less