Ladies of the Order Series by Adele Clee

Two lonely children form a bond. As the daughter of a famed courtesan, Julianna de Lacy had seen more than her share of heartbreak. As a child, her own heart was broken the night her mother dragged her from the Marquess Devereaux’s mansion and forced her into a stranger’s carriage. It was not the fear of meeting her mother’s new lover that had Julianna sobbing, but the fact she was leaving Bennet Devereaux—the marquess’ young son and Julianna’s only friend... moreTwo lonely children form a bond. As the daughter of a famed courtesan, Julianna de Lacy had seen more than her share of heartbreak. As a child, her own heart was broken the night her mother dragged her from the Marquess Devereaux’s mansion and forced her into a stranger’s carriage. It was not the fear of meeting her mother’s new lover that had Julianna sobbing, but the fact she was leaving Bennet Devereaux—the marquess’ young son and Julianna’s only friend. Their parting words became a mantra she recited every night before bed. Promise you’ll find me when you’re old enough. Promise you’ll return if you can. Two promises made and broken. Someone is trying to kill Bennet Devereaux. The twenty-seven-year-old marquess has received copies of his obituary, witnessed two staged murder scenes and fears the third might be his last. Desperate to uncover the culprit, he seeks to hire an enquiry agent. Imagine his surprise when the only available agent is a woman—a woman who was once his childhood friend and confidante. Two people thrown together by fate. Bennet and Julianna must find the villain before it’s too late. But the deep bond they forged as children quickly develops into an intense attraction. How will they navigate these uncharted waters when Julianna refuses to be any man’s mistress? What options are left for Bennet when he can’t make a courtesan’s daughter his wife? Find out in The Devereaux Affair - Ladies of the Order Book 1. less

An enquiry agent seeking her first case. After spending weeks eagerly awaiting an assignment, Rachel Gambit is instructed to meet her potential new client at a Vauxhall masquerade. She’s been given a list of instructions: to wear red, to find the mysterious gentleman amongst the crowd, with no clue to his identity. But if, by God’s good grace, she finds the man, she must go through a series of tests before he agrees to hire her. A man on a mission... moreAn enquiry agent seeking her first case. After spending weeks eagerly awaiting an assignment, Rachel Gambit is instructed to meet her potential new client at a Vauxhall masquerade. She’s been given a list of instructions: to wear red, to find the mysterious gentleman amongst the crowd, with no clue to his identity. But if, by God’s good grace, she finds the man, she must go through a series of tests before he agrees to hire her. A man on a mission. Eli Hunter needs a woman who can act her way onto any Covent Garden stage. He needs a woman with steely determination and a cunning mind. A woman who can help him recover a stolen artefact owned by a secret society. But he encounters a problem. The only enquiry agent available stirs a passion that could soften the hardest heart—a terrifying prospect for a man who’s survived the worst kind of betrayal. Can Rachel and Eli work together and suppress their obvious attraction? When thrown in the midsts of danger, will they find something infinitely more precious than a stolen artefact? Find out in - More than a Masquerade - Ladies of the Order Book 2 ♥. less

When Miss Eliza Dutton discovers her first case for the Order involves helping a lord who has a gambling habit, her instinct is to refuse. The fact her father lost his fortune and his life at a gaming hell is the reason she despises Lord Roxburgh. But Eliza is given an ultimatum: help the handsome rogue or find work elsewhere. Lord Roxburgh has a reason for trying his luck at the tables, and it has nothing to do with winning money... moreWhen Miss Eliza Dutton discovers her first case for the Order involves helping a lord who has a gambling habit, her instinct is to refuse. The fact her father lost his fortune and his life at a gaming hell is the reason she despises Lord Roxburgh. But Eliza is given an ultimatum: help the handsome rogue or find work elsewhere. Lord Roxburgh has a reason for trying his luck at the tables, and it has nothing to do with winning money. But his life of dissipation is brought to a swift end when a guest is found murdered in his garden. While working together to solve the crime, will Eliza discover there’s more to Lord Roxburgh than his sinful good looks? Can a lord who’s suffered the worst kind of tragedy abandon old habits and fall in love? Find out in - Mine at Midnight - Ladies of the Order Book 3 ♥. less

An enquiry agent hiding from her past. When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment. A lord plagued by injustice... moreAn enquiry agent hiding from her past. When Miss Honora Wild meets her first client, she fears there has been a dreadful mistake. Having escaped from a domineering father, she shouldn’t have to work for a man suspected of murder, one whose mood matches his frightening facial scar. She shouldn’t have to venture to his clifftop castle to prove the devil is innocent of the crime. But she owes her employer a great debt and has no option but to accept the assignment. A lord plagued by injustice. Lord Deville, had every reason to murder his brother and almost wished he had pushed the fool off the cliff. Society sees Sylvester’s disfigurement as a sign of guilt, and he’s desperate to clear his name. He had known to expect a female agent, but devious women have been the bane of his existence, and he suspects Miss Wild is hiding a wicked secret beneath her timid facade. Will Honora learn to see beyond Sylvester’s intimidating persona? Will Sylvester learn to trust a woman who’s not been entirely honest? less

After almost a year spent playing chaperone to Mr Daventry’s female enquiry agents, Miss Trimble knows she must find a new position. All his agents are married, and so what other reason could he have for calling her to his office late at night? Except her employer is a master matchmaker, a man who has discovered her true identity, knows her real name and her darkest secret. A man who leaves her no choice but to confront her past and work alongside his client—the illegitimate son of an earl... moreAfter almost a year spent playing chaperone to Mr Daventry’s female enquiry agents, Miss Trimble knows she must find a new position. All his agents are married, and so what other reason could he have for calling her to his office late at night? Except her employer is a master matchmaker, a man who has discovered her true identity, knows her real name and her darkest secret. A man who leaves her no choice but to confront her past and work alongside his client—the illegitimate son of an earl. Alexander Grayson believes he knows who killed his brother. But he needs proof and cannot simply barge into a man’s home and rummage in his armoire. The perfect solution presents itself in the guise of a woman hiding from her past. But when the lady arrives expecting him to hire her as his enquiry agent, she is stunned to find he has a more shocking proposal. Can a woman everyone believes is dead overcome her distrust of men? Will the couple’s shared goals lead to more than friendship? less