An Unlikely Suitor

Book excerpt: A young woman disappears. A husband is suspected of murder.Stirring times for all the neighborhood. At twenty-three and a bluestocking to boot, Miss Lavender Brabantfeels her chances of marriage have passed her by. But the problemisn't that she's never met a man to make her pulse race. It's thatshe's an admiral's daughter—and the man of her dreams is ashopkeeper's son.Barnabas Hammond has the looks and confidence to mingle with allcircles of society. And to Lavender's amazement he is both well-readand a superlative swordsman. Could it be that this unlikely suitor ismore suitable than he at first appears?