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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sorcha MacMurrough is a multi-published author from Ireland who has taught English literature and English and Irish history. She has lived all over the UK and Ireland, including London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. Her favorite cities to live in or visit are Bath and York. She loves old houses, castles and estates and can usually be found touring these locales to help make all of her settings come alive for the reader. Sorcha loves the Regency period and the Napoleonic era in particular, which form the beginning of the modern world as we know it.
Her novels have been chosen as monthly "Top Picks" by Romantic Times, and she has also been nominated for a Reviewer's Choice award for best novel of the year by Romantic Times. When she is not writing, researching and teaching, she cooks, knits Aran sweaters, and enjoys spending time with her large family. She loves Irish dancing and music, and beachcombing on the shores of Donegal, Sligo and Galway.
Dedication
To all my friends and family, who don't get to see or hear from me nearly as often as they would wish. And to my readers, who make it all worthwhile.
CAST OF MAIN CHARACTERS
Dr. Blake Sanderson, a Rakehell, a doctor in London, heir to Jerome Hall
Captain Peter Davison, Blake's friend from his college days, Arabella's step-brother
Miss Arabella Neville, Peter's step-sister
Adam Neville, Arabella's eldest cousin
Oliver Neville, Arabella's younger cousin
Rosalie Crane Stanton, Blake's former fiancee
Leonore Ross, Blake's former mistress
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome, Present owners of Jerome Hall
Alfred Jerome, their heir, now deceased
Emma Jerome, his sister, also recently deceased
Ellen and Georgina, Alfred and Emma's two youngest sisters
Martin, their cousin
Samuel, his younger brother
Michael Avenel, a Rakehell, crippled former soldier, lives in Bath, special friends with Blake
Philip Marshall, a Rakehell, a man about Town in London, special friends with Thomas Eltham, the Duke of Ellesmere
Henry Stone, Clifford Stones's younger brother, resides in at Stone Court in Millcote
Josephine Stone, nee Jerome, his wife, Ellen and Georgina's eldest sister
Malcolm Branson, friend of the Stones, works with his father, was engaged to Emma Jerome before her death
Geoffrey Branson, Malcolm's father, local magistrate at Millcote
Clifford Stone, a Rakehell, owner of Stone Court
Vanessa Stone, nee Hawkesworth, his wife, a great scholar
(for their story, see The Mad Mistress)
The Duke of Ellesmere, Thomas Eltham, a Rakehell, lives at Eltham Castle
The Duchess of Ellesmere, Charlotte Eltham, nee Castlemaine, his wife
(for their story, see The Missed Match)
Stewart Fitzgerald, the Duke of Clancar, Thomas Eltham's cousin
Vevina Joyce Fitzgerald, wealthy Irish heiress
(for their story, see Scars Upon Her Hear)
Colonel Wilfred Joyce, Vevina's brother
Elizabeth Eltham, Thomas's younger sister
(for their story, see The Scarred Heart)
Major Geoffrey Parks, Wilfred's best friend
Jonathan Deveril, a Rakehell, vicar of Brimley and Eltham
Pamela Deveril, nee Ashton, his wife
(for their story, see The Miss Matched)
Sarah Deveril Davenport, Jonathan's youngest sister
Jason Alexander Deveril Davenport, (Alexander), her husband
(for their story, see The Matchless Miss)
Alistair Grant, a Rakehell, a barrister in London
GUARDIAN OF THE HEART
CHAPTER ONE
December 21, 1814
A mail coach riding at a breakneck pace over the rutted road to London in winter was not the most luxurious way to travel. But Arabella Neville, lost in her worries, hardly noticed the discomfort as she huddled in her cloak in the facing seat.
Every so often she peeped out at the frozen landscape as they jolted along. Thus far, after two days of her journey from Somerset, she had not had any traveling companion linger with her for more than a few stops heading toward the capital.
Earlier that morning the reserved, brown-haired Mr. Greengage had come on board a few stops prior to Reading. He sat opposite her with his back to the driver and had behaved in all respects in a most gentlemanly manner ever since.