Innocence

Book excerpt: Forced to flee her father's brutal heir, Miss Anneliese Barlow masquerades as Lisa Brown, a commoner, in the grand country mansion of the Duke of Worthington. Discovering the life she'd known was a virtual fairy tale, and reality a dark and forbidding place, Lisa faces danger at every turn. Captivated by the beautiful maid, the duke's heir, Lord Marsden, decides the only way to keep the new girl safe-and close-is by offering her his protection. With her reputation ruined and all hope of returning to her previous station seemingly lost, Lisa surrenders her virtue, finding unexpected passion in Nathaniel's arms. Despite her misgivings about the dubious morality of the role, she accepts the position of Nathaniel's mistress, but the future is fraught with uncertainty. If her identity is uncovered, Lisa's innocence won't be the only thing that's lost.