The Footmen's Club Series by Valerie Bowman

Let the games begin. .. Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes... moreLet the games begin. .. Every fortune-hunting female in London is after the newly titled Earl of Kendall, but he’s intent on finding a wife whose heart is true. So, while drunkenly jesting with his friends in a pub one night, he has an idea—what if the ladies of the ton didn’t know he was a wealthy earl? All he has to do is pose as a servant at his friend’s summer country house party and make sure the guest list is full of beautiful, eligible debutantes. What could possibly go wrong? May the best footman win. Miss Frances Wharton is far more interested in fighting for the rights of the poor than in marriage, but her mother insists she attend a summer house party—and find herself a husband. Frances would rather wed a goat than the pompous man her mother has in mind, so in order to dissuade the would-be suitor, she vows to behave like a shrew. The only person she can be herself with is the kind, handsome footman she runs into at every turn. Their connection is undeniable, and the divide between them is no match for the passion they feel. But what will happen when Frances learns that the footman she adores is actually the earl she despises? In a game where everything is false, can they convince each other that their love is true? less

He’s posing as a groomsman. Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington, has bet his friends an ungodly sum of money that despite his loftiness, he can pass himself off as a servant at the house party of the Season. But when his clever ex-flame arrives and recognizes Rhys in the stables pretending to be a groomsman, she realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to pay him back for breaking off their engagement. She’s the bride-to-be... moreHe’s posing as a groomsman. Rhys Sheffield, the Duke of Worthington, has bet his friends an ungodly sum of money that despite his loftiness, he can pass himself off as a servant at the house party of the Season. But when his clever ex-flame arrives and recognizes Rhys in the stables pretending to be a groomsman, she realizes it’s the perfect opportunity to pay him back for breaking off their engagement. She’s the bride-to-be. The lovely Lady Julianna Montgomery may be the only young woman at the house party who’s not in the market for a husband. She’s quite happily engaged to a marquess, thank you very much, and scarcely remembers the pain of being callously tossed over by the Duke of Worthington nearly two long years ago—till now. All bets are off. Rhys seems to be everywhere, flexing his muscles, laboring in the sun—and Julianna has never found him more appealing. With his signature charm, he persuades her to keep his secret. But when she learns he’s determined to win a bet of honor, she can’t resist playing a game of her own. She’ll spend the next fortnight tempting Rhys at every turn and making him lose his precious wager. Even if it means she must lose her heart in the process…. less

He's on a top-secret assignment. All of London knows Beau Bellham as the Marquess of Bellingham, but only a trusted few know he also works for the Home Office. His specialty? Scouting out traitors to the Crown. So, when one of his friends pretends to be a footman at a house party in order to find a wife, Beau decides posing as a valet at the same gathering will be the perfect cover for him to spy on the men he suspects of treason... moreHe's on a top-secret assignment. All of London knows Beau Bellham as the Marquess of Bellingham, but only a trusted few know he also works for the Home Office. His specialty? Scouting out traitors to the Crown. So, when one of his friends pretends to be a footman at a house party in order to find a wife, Beau decides posing as a valet at the same gathering will be the perfect cover for him to spy on the men he suspects of treason. What Beau doesn't count on, however, is butting heads with a far-too-certain-of-herself maid who gives him hell at every turn. She's about to blow his cover. Miss Marianne Notley is a lady's maid with more secrets than hairpins. When she meets her employer's new valet, she distrusts him immediately. Never mind his dashing good looks and irrepressible charm, he's a bit too sure of himself and asks a few too many questions for her liking. She's on a mission to reveal the mysterious valet's true identity, and she's not above wielding her own considerable charms to do it. But before long, all the pretending Marianne and Beau are doing feels alarmingly real—and a lot like falling in love. When they finally discover the truth about each other, will it spark a face-off for the ages or a love that lasts for all time? less

His best laid plans…. Ewan Fairchild, Viscount Clayton, has been busy ticking off the boxes for a bright future. Become a rising star in Parliament? Check. Find a lady he intends to marry? Check. Make his stables the envy of every man in London? Check, thanks to the prize Arabian thoroughbred he’s just won at auction. Clayton’s on his way to having it all and won’t change course for anyone—not even the beautiful young woman next door. …are about to go awry... moreHis best laid plans…. Ewan Fairchild, Viscount Clayton, has been busy ticking off the boxes for a bright future. Become a rising star in Parliament? Check. Find a lady he intends to marry? Check. Make his stables the envy of every man in London? Check, thanks to the prize Arabian thoroughbred he’s just won at auction. Clayton’s on his way to having it all and won’t change course for anyone—not even the beautiful young woman next door. …are about to go awry. Lady Theodora Ballard didn’t mind missing a Season of dinner parties, balls, and soirees to care for her ailing mother, but when Thea’s father sold her horse out from under her, she thought her heart would break. Now the roguishly handsome viscount at the neighboring estate has her horse—and she’ll stop at nothing to get him back. Unfortunately, a horse spying mission goes south, leaving Thea with a broken leg and Clayton with an alluring houseguest who upends his orderly world. The sparks between them are undeniable, but secrets and scandal abound. It’s going to take more than a little love to save them…. less

He never wanted a title. Fresh off the battlefield, Captain David Ellsworth has returned home to discover the shocking and unwelcome news that he’s the new Earl of Elmwood. Though David had no idea he was in line for a title, he and his sister must now navigate the snark-infested waters of the London ton. He knows how to be a soldier, an officer, and a brother, but he hasn’t a clue how to be an earl. David will need all the help he can get. Even if it comes from the undeniably beautiful woman. moreHe never wanted a title. Fresh off the battlefield, Captain David Ellsworth has returned home to discover the shocking and unwelcome news that he’s the new Earl of Elmwood. Though David had no idea he was in line for a title, he and his sister must now navigate the snark-infested waters of the London ton. He knows how to be a soldier, an officer, and a brother, but he hasn’t a clue how to be an earl. David will need all the help he can get. Even if it comes from the undeniably beautiful woman. .. who is the darling of the world he detests. She never wanted a husband. The younger sister of a marquess, Lady Annabelle Bellham moves through elegant ballrooms with the ease of a lioness traversing the jungle. She’s the most elusive belle at every ball, and gentlemen have long placed bets on which lucky man will finally win her hand. But Annabelle has no intention of falling prey to a man’s charms. She's seen the destruction wrought by marriage and is dead set on avoiding a similar fate. But here they are…. Thankfully, Annabelle’s older brother hasn’t pressured her to take a husband—yet. Which is why she feels obliged to agree when he asks her a favor: To teach the newly minted Earl of Elmwood how to act in Society. Still, the task shouldn’t be too difficult. All Annabelle must do is spend countless hours in the company of a handsome, brooding ex-soldier—who’s making her question every rule she’s set for herself. She and David have nothing in common except a fiery passion and some highly inconvenient feelings…could it be enough? less

A wedding is in her future. Miss Sophie Payton might be engaged, but she’s not in love. The only man who ever captured her heart was Phillip Grayson—a soldier who was slain a year ago. But when her stepmother decrees that Sophie will marry Phillip’s cousin, the new Duke of Harlowe, Sophie’s in no position to refuse. A funeral is in his past. The ton thinks Phillip Grayson died a hero on the battlefields of Europe, but he’s very much alive... moreA wedding is in her future. Miss Sophie Payton might be engaged, but she’s not in love. The only man who ever captured her heart was Phillip Grayson—a soldier who was slain a year ago. But when her stepmother decrees that Sophie will marry Phillip’s cousin, the new Duke of Harlowe, Sophie’s in no position to refuse. A funeral is in his past. The ton thinks Phillip Grayson died a hero on the battlefields of Europe, but he’s very much alive. While he spent the last year recuperating from his grave injuries in secret at his friend’s estate, his brother was murdered, his cousin took over the title of duke, and the woman he loved—the one he dreamed of every night—apparently moved on without him. But the duke is back. Phillip has returned to London intent on reclaiming his brother’s title and making the people who killed him pay. He doesn’t understand how Sophie could have betrayed him; she can’t forgive him for letting her believe he was dead. And yet neither can deny that the attraction between them burns hotter than ever. Nothing is as it seems, but perhaps the truth can save them…if it doesn’t kill them first. less