‘Forgive me.’

      Jane gazed up into his eyes. For a moment she felt weak and vulnerable, close to the tears she had been suppressing.

      George hesitated, then bent his head, his lips brushing her brow. The caress comforted her, though she ought to have rejected it. Instead she wanted to cling to him.

      Jane felt his arms close about her. He held her next to his body and his lips touched her hair; he stroked the back of her neck with his fingertips, his warmth comforting her. He did nothing to indicate a desire to make love to her. His embrace was one of comfort and reassurance—nothing more.

      For a moment Jane wished that she might stay in his arms for ever, but then she remembered who she was and why she was with this man and drew back …

      SECRETS AND SCANDALS

       Nothing stays secret for long in Regency Society!

      The truth threatens to reveal a scandal

      for all three couples in this

      exciting new trilogy from

       Anne Herries

      THE DISAPPEARING DUCHESS—

      February 2012

      THE MYSTERIOUS LORD MARLOWE—

      March 2012

      THE SCANDALOUS LORD LANCHESTER—

      April 2012

       You can also find these as eBooks at www.millsandboon.co.uk

      About the Author

      ANNE HERRIES lives in Cambridgeshire, where she is fond of watching wildlife, and spoils the birds and squirrels that are frequent visitors to her garden. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature, and sometimes puts a little into her books, although they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment, and to give pleasure to her readers. She is a winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romance Prize. She invites readers to contact her on her website: www.lindasole.co.uk

       Previous novels by the same author:

      THE RAKE’S REBELLIOUS LADY

      A COUNTRY MISS IN HANOVER SQUARE*

      AN INNOCENT DEBUTANTE IN HANOVER SQUARE*

      THE MISTRESS OF HANOVER SQUARE*

      FORBIDDEN LADY†

      THE LORD’S FORCED BRIDE†

      THE PIRATE’S WILLING CAPTIVE†

      HER DARK AND DANGEROUS LORD†

      BOUGHT FOR THE HAREM

      HOSTAGE BRIDE

      *A Season in Town trilogy †The Melford Dynasty

      And in the Regency series The Steepwood Scandal:

      LORD RAVENSDEN’S MARRIAGE

      COUNTERFEIT EARL

      And in The Hellfire Mysteries:

      AN IMPROPER COMPANION

      A WEALTHY WIDOW

      A WORTHY GENTLEMAN

       Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

      The Mysterious

      Lord Marlowe

      Anne Herries

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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       Prologue

      ‘That is my only offer. Take it or leave it.’

      The tall gentleman looked into the face of the man who had spoken and knew him for a rogue. Blake was lying through his teeth and he would be a fool to believe one word the man said—and yet what could he do but agree to the devil’s proposal?

      ‘You are asking me to help you abduct a respectable young woman?’ he asked because he needed to say the words aloud to get them clear in his mind. ‘You refuse my money and demand that I go along with this outrageous affair in exchange for the return of my property—am I right?’

      ‘The girl is willing enough. She wants it to look as if it is an abduction so that her guardian will not refuse our marriage. He holds the purse strings and will release her fortune to save her reputation.’

      ‘I do not see why you need my help if the girl is willing to wed you?’

      ‘I must be sure that no harm comes to her. The men I employ aren’t of the best character and they might decide to carry her off themselves for the ransom. Her guardian hates me and if he guessed I was involved he would never release her fortune to me. Therefore I must employ someone I can trust—and if you wish to protect a certain lady’s good name you will oblige me.’

      ‘You swear to me that this young lady is willing?’

      ‘I have said it,’ Blake grunted and glared at him. ‘Please yourself, sir. If you want those letters returned, then that is my price.’

      Blake was in his late thirties, good-looking enough in his own way—apart from his odd eyes. Of differing shades, they gave him a strange appearance, which was slightly sinister.

      ‘Then you leave me little choice. I do not see why you need my help, but if it is the only way …’

      ‘You will speak to her, reassure her, stay with her until I join you both at a place we shall agree upon. My men will do the business, but you must keep your word and stay with her until we meet.’

      The tall gentleman frowned, certain now that Blake was lying about the girl’s willingness to be abducted. His instincts told him to walk away. He should go to a magistrate and tell him what he knew—but if he did that someone he cared for would lose everything. He was caught between the devil and destruction. Besides, he did not even know the young woman’s name; if he did not help Blake the abduction would still take place. Blake would find someone else to do his dirty work and then there would be no chance of thwarting him.

      ‘Where will you be whilst this deed takes place?’

      ‘I shall be nearby, watching you. My men shall take the young lady to a fresh carriage that I shall have waiting—you will accompany her until we get to the rendezvous point and then you will go your own way.’

      ‘And then you will return my property?’

      ‘You have my word on it.’

      The word of a cheat and a liar. He did not for one moment believe that the girl was willing, but if he walked away now more than