Love Touched Hearts : A Regency Romance Valentine's Day Collection: 5 Delightful Regency Valentine's Day Stories

Giving a Heart of LaceA Lady brought low by scandal, a handsome merchant, a brilliant business idea, a scoundrel, a Valentine's Day gift. Lady Serafine Parkington struggles to keep herself, and her mother, alive, after the scandal of her brother's gambling and suicide left them shunned by the ton. Mr Raphael Morton, returned war hero and wealthy merchant, is finding it difficult to settle back into civilian life. He seeks a business idea to make life worthwhile again. When an accident of circumstance brings Lady Serafine and Raphael together, an unlikely business partnership is born. Can they save their business from a scoundrel and find a partnership of the heart, as well as one of business?Lord Haverly's Valentine PursuitLady Evelyn's husband has dropped dead. Now, the ton are gossiping wildly. Was it copious drink? Did he have a wandering eye? All Lady Evelyn wants to do is escape with her two children. Her properties include an Irish horse stud and she flees there, seeking solace and healing. Initially she resists the charms of the Viscount of Haverly, a visitor to the area, but to no avail - eventually her heart is engaged. When his true motivation comes to light, she is thrust once again into the depths of grief and despair. Will Lady Evelyn ever find true romance? And what can the Viscount possibly do to redeem himself?Valentine's DuelWhy would Miss Mary Highland's sister, Helen, the blue-stocking with no interest in marriage, get a Valentine? It can't matter that Mary has put the Valentine into a drawer, unread. It also shouldn't matter that Mary is in love with her brother's best friend, or that her love is a known rake, or that he has a fiancé or that he has just kissed her. But it does. Captain Vincent Darten has returned from war a more serious man - but his reputation remains. He was sure that proposing to Miss Charlotte was the best decision. Until he saw Mary again. And kissed her. But breaking engagements tends to result in duels - and duels have a nasty habit of resulting in serious injury… Can Mary and Vincent find their way to true love? Or will their mistakes keep them apart forever?The Duke's Love LetterSpinster, Miss Henrietta Hart, supports herself with her words. Gentlemen who find themselves lacking in poetic skills pay her to compose their Valentines and other missives. It is a successful business. David Stanton, Duke of Mowbray, finds himself unable to compose a romantic Valentine's Day letter to win the heart of Miss Fairchild. At his brother's suggestion the Duke asks Henrietta's assistance with his problem and spends time with her to achieve the perfect message. The Duke is the most intriguing man that Henrietta has met, and she finds her affections engaged - but she is well aware of the impossibility of any relationship. Will the Duke notice her interest and feel the same way, or will he continue to pursue the love of Miss Fairchild and break Henrietta's heart?The Duke's Vanishing ValentineDuncan Livingston, Duke of Middleford, attends a Valentine's Masquerade Ball and is entranced by a woman costumed as Marie Antoinette, who he assumes, at first, to be his childhood friend, Lady Margaret Notley. By evening's end, she has stolen his heart. But, just before the midnight unmasking, she disappears. Upon seeking out Lady Margaret the next day, Duncan is startled to discover that she declares that she had not, after all, attended the Ball. Is Lady Margaret lying to him? Surely not! Then… who was the mystery woman? Will Duncan's quest succeed? Will he discover the truth, and find the woman he loves?