Wedding the Heiress Series by Fiona Millsan

In the years after the death of the hero king Henry V England is no country for lovers. The Plantagenet wolf pack, those restless, rapacious descendants of Edward III scheme and conspire without respite. As yet their plots and fierce rivalries only presage the open warfare to come between York and Lancaster, but the foreboding and menace is frighteningly real for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in it... moreIn the years after the death of the hero king Henry V England is no country for lovers. The Plantagenet wolf pack, those restless, rapacious descendants of Edward III scheme and conspire without respite. As yet their plots and fierce rivalries only presage the open warfare to come between York and Lancaster, but the foreboding and menace is frighteningly real for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in it. For none more so than a young noblewoman unlucky enough to be heiress to a patrimony which rivals the lands of the Royal Dukes themselves. Whose childhood memories of how far men will stoop to acquire land and power haunt her still. She may be under the protection of the widowed Queen, Katherine of Valois, but Elizabeth Hawley has no illusions how fragile that protection is. So Elizabeth can be forgiven if she uses the frivolities of the court and the company of her dogs and horses to keep her anxieties at bay. And even absolved if she allows loyalty to her mistress to draw her into the intrigues of the Queen. Displacement activity perhaps, but infinitely preferable to simply waiting to learn her fate. Into this milieu erupts Sir Richard Saxton, a man who had found his metier in the savage fighting of the Hundred Years War in France, where the only maiden he was like to encounter was the one the French called Jeanne de Arc, Maid of Orleans. Richard is taciturn, scarred by his war service, but not immune to grace and beauty, particularly in the form of the richly endowed and spirited Lady Elizabeth Hawley. Moreover he is a man in search of his fortune, for his war service has not been rewarded by grants of land. less

Judith Hampton loved Thomas Stainford. Once. With all the fervour and intensity that only a young girl in the throes of her first love can feel. Nothing could have altered the way she felt. Yet now she loathes the sight of him... moreJudith Hampton loved Thomas Stainford. Once. With all the fervour and intensity that only a young girl in the throes of her first love can feel. Nothing could have altered the way she felt. Yet now she loathes the sight of him. Not because his scheming to rebuild his military career threatens to ruin her betrothal to the man whose purse strings support her family; not because he’s disgraced and disinherited as heir to his father the Earl of Penwick after facing his own brother over the barrel of a duelling pistol; not even because of the scandals over women, his own sister in law included, that marked his progress through Portugal and Spain with Wellington’s army. She hates him because he broke her heart and ruined her in the space of a few short weeks before he left to go to the Peninsular War. Judith’s circumstances have altered since then. The Hamptons, flush with land and lineage, haven’t enough money to sustain their estate or pay off her brother John’s debts. With her father ailing a suitable marriage is imperative for Judith. Thomas’ return and the secrets they share threaten this unedifying but essential ambition. Might it also rekindle their love? And if it does how will Judith know she’s finally reformed her rake? less

Scotland 1809. Christina Irvine knew what was important in life: her family, their land, and the people who lived and worked on that land. Not that her privileged existence made her obdurate, or impulsive, or entitled. Not in any way. Just very sure of what truly matters. So Graham Meikle’s first fault is his different outlook. Focused on commerce rather than any empty aspiration to join the Regency ton, he keeps his own council every bit as tightly as he holds his secrets... moreScotland 1809. Christina Irvine knew what was important in life: her family, their land, and the people who lived and worked on that land. Not that her privileged existence made her obdurate, or impulsive, or entitled. Not in any way. Just very sure of what truly matters. So Graham Meikle’s first fault is his different outlook. Focused on commerce rather than any empty aspiration to join the Regency ton, he keeps his own council every bit as tightly as he holds his secrets. Unfortunately tall dark and mysterious is guaranteed to infuriate Christina as much as it intrigues her. As the tentacles of war reach into the land she loves and the vulnerabilities of her family are exploited by their enemies the assurance of Christina’s life crumbles. Enmeshed in conspiracy she can’t begin to understand she faces the ruin of her family, her home and her hopes. Christina needs every ally she can find to face the danger and the threat to her honour. Yet you need to be able to trust allies and Christina doesn’t know whether or not she can rely on Graham. The man is secretive and clandestine, with a question mark over past complicity with her enemies. Her instinct is to recoil from the attraction she feels for him. She can’t commit her heart until she understands both him and his actions. The trouble is that, rather inconveniently, she forgot to explain that to her heart. less

Godiva Svensdottir never gave up. Never. No matter what. She knew her duty and she believed in it. If it took all her strength and will she would do what she was bound to do. It was unthinkable that she would betray the trust her father had placed in her. Except that it shouldn’t have been this hard. If Sven Harthcason had known how cruel it would be he never would have left her to this. Not that he had much choice when it came down to it... moreGodiva Svensdottir never gave up. Never. No matter what. She knew her duty and she believed in it. If it took all her strength and will she would do what she was bound to do. It was unthinkable that she would betray the trust her father had placed in her. Except that it shouldn’t have been this hard. If Sven Harthcason had known how cruel it would be he never would have left her to this. Not that he had much choice when it came down to it. Gone, slain without mercy in that turbulent year of 1066, like so many others. She wanted to follow the path her father had marked for her, and make him proud to smile down on her from Valhalla. To marry the Saxon, Leofric, father had chosen for her; and with that union carry on the work of reconciliation between Dane and Saxon that her parents’ own marriage had begun. The protection she’d gain from the new Norman overlords slavering to marry eligible English heiresses wasn’t a negligible consideration either. The arrival of one of the rapacious invaders at Ravensthorpe only made the matter more urgent. Sir Geoffrey deBruis had a brutal haircut and a self righteous mission to build his royal master’s castle on her land. In short the man was anathema to Godiva. Her father’s Danes weren’t particularly afflicted by self-doubt but this Norman appeared completely oblivious of the concept. And she couldn’t help herself but to take issue with him whenever he was in the wrong. Which proved to be most of the time. Yet amidst the savagery and treachery of the guerrilla insurgency besetting England after the Norman victory Godiva cannot be mistress of her own destiny. Neither Church nor Court will allow it and she has to choose between the two men who contend for her: Saxon Leofric or Norman Geoffrey. Hard enough but immeasurably harder when nothing and no one is as they appear. From Geoffrey’s shameful family secret to the mystery of her father’s death Godiva is snared in a web of confusion and deceit. Betrayal is her constant companion as her frantic efforts to protect her lands and people rebound on her. Till she no longer knows which way to turn. Will mistrust and mystery vanquish any chance of her finding true, lasting love? less