“Mama?” At the sound of Aldridge’s voice, Eleanor, Duchess of Haverford composed her face, smoothing the slight frown that creased her forehead and forcing a smile as she greeted this beloved guest. “My love,” she said, as he crossed to press a kiss on the hand she raised for him, Read more…
Jonathan Grenford (called Jon by his family and Gren by everyone else) is the second son of the Duke of Haverford, a fact that was causing him considerable distress when he first appeared in Revealed in Mist. His next appointment arrived late, apologising as he approached the table, hand extended Read more…
Aldridge next approached her after dinner, sitting on the other side of the love seat she’d deliberately chosen in a shadowed corner of the great parlour, out of the direct view of the earl, who was playing the pianoforte, and the countess, turning the pages of music for him. “I Read more…
Prue Wakefield is the third daughter of a non-conformist preacher by the name of Redemption Virtue. These were not the names he had from his family. His father was a country squire of the ride anything with four legs, drink anything alcoholic, swive any available female school. As the second Read more…
Aldridge never did find out how he came to be naked, alone, and sleeping in the small summerhouse in the garden of a country cottage. His last memory of the night before had him twenty miles away, and—although not dressed—in a comfortable bed, and in company. The first time he Read more…
David Wakefield is a thief taker, though he prefers the term ‘enquiry agent.’ He is Haverford’s son by the daughter of a man who manages one of Haverford’s mines in Wales. Haverford amused himself with her while staying at his estate in Wales one summer, before his marriage to Eleanor. Read more…
Two hours later, Prue returned from the meeting with Tolliver. Allen opened the door to her knock. “There is a visitor, Miss Virtue. He asked for Mr. Wakefield. I told him the master was out of town, but he said he would leave a note, and then Mrs. Smith came Read more…
The Fifth Duke of Haverford was the only legitimate child of the previous duke, and doted on by his mother, a plethora of aunts, cousins, and nursemaids. He was the Marquis of Aldridge from his cradle–enormously wealthy, privileged, and indulged. When he inherited the title in 1756, at the age Read more…
David frowned at the fire in the small hearth. The private parlour he had hired was small and shabby, but at least its size made it easy to heat. And it was neutral ground, which mattered. David hadn’t had a prolonged conversation with his expected guest in a decade and Read more…
Haverford House is the London home of the Dukes of Haverford. It is on the bank of the Thames upriver from London, facing the road but with extensive gardens behind leading down the river, where a watergate lets on to a wharf. Haverford House is built in the form of Read more…