SHE WANTED A HUSBAND NOT A HERO. . .

Herefordshire was the home of Valentina Ashford's half-cousin, Charles de Michel, whom she only knew by reputation. Nevertheless, it was there she went in a desperate attempt to provide her remaining family with a place to live.

Having finagled Charle's reluctant agreement, Valentina concluded he more than lived up to his disagreeable reputation. Still, there were moments when she glimpsed another side of him and could not deny his charm. Though rumours about her cousin's allegiance to England were rife, Valentina became his staunch defender.

(Written by Patricia Veryan, under a pseudonym.)