Unmarriageable Series by Mary Lancaster

Unmarriageable? Or simply unusual?There can only be one reason for the proud Duke of Alvan’s proposed visit to Audley Park. He means to offer for Lord Overton’s beautiful daughter, Thomasina, thus saving the family’s waning fortune. In the midst of the hectic preparations for his arrival, Overton’s least marriageable daughter Charlotte remembers to collect her young brothers from school for the holidays... moreUnmarriageable? Or simply unusual?There can only be one reason for the proud Duke of Alvan’s proposed visit to Audley Park. He means to offer for Lord Overton’s beautiful daughter, Thomasina, thus saving the family’s waning fortune. In the midst of the hectic preparations for his arrival, Overton’s least marriageable daughter Charlotte remembers to collect her young brothers from school for the holidays.When fog forces them to spend the night at the Hart Inn, they are astonished to find the house deserted, save for one other enigmatic traveler who deals most capably with armed intruders. Drawn to their unconventional new friend, Charlotte enlists his help to solve the mystery.Amidst the upheaval of the duke’s visit, to say nothing of the chaos caused by Charlotte’s unmanageable pet terrier, the Hart becomes the focus of nefarious doings, kidnappings, and romantic entanglements. For Charlotte is unwise enough to fall hopelessly in love with her sister’s intended husband, and the duke hides too many secrets of his own.Will they find their happily ever after with each other? less

Read Book 2 in Mary Lancaster's latest hit series, The Unmarriageable Series! Lady Cecily, a daughter of a duke, has a habit of getting into trouble. Perhaps it’s her natural curiosity or maybe, she likes excitement, especially where the notorious Lord Verne is concerned... moreRead Book 2 in Mary Lancaster's latest hit series, The Unmarriageable Series! Lady Cecily, a daughter of a duke, has a habit of getting into trouble. Perhaps it’s her natural curiosity or maybe, she likes excitement, especially where the notorious Lord Verne is concerned. When she’s mistaken for a hussy at the Hart Inn—by every fault of her own—staring at the handsome lord through a partially opened door in a private parlor and watching him out of her chamber window in the middle of the night—is it any surprise he abducts her? Of course, she foolishly imagines her rank and her identity are enough to protect her. But her family name doesn't change Verne's mind, for he is still fascinated by Cecily. With her reputation hanging by a thread after spending the night in Verne's house, she's forced to make a fateful decision, face the consequences of her actions, which could mean utter ruin for her and her family, or agree to a fake engagement with the rakish lord. Lord Verne has a tragic past and his own dark secrets to contend with, making him a bad match for the vivacious Cecily and her powerful family. But once the news of their "engagement" gets out, neither one of them is in a hurry to call it off. Will they find their happily ever after with each other? Or will Verne's sinister past destroy everything? Books in Series: The Deserted Heart The Sinister Heart less

Danger, loyalty and loving the enemy… Book 4 in The Unmarriageable Series is now available! Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited! Shunned by society and even by her own family after the treachery of her late husband, Isabelle de Renarde has long given up any thought of love or remarriage. But desperate loneliness drives her to make an assignation at the Hart Inn – which is where, inevitably, everything changes... moreDanger, loyalty and loving the enemy… Book 4 in The Unmarriageable Series is now available! Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited! Shunned by society and even by her own family after the treachery of her late husband, Isabelle de Renarde has long given up any thought of love or remarriage. But desperate loneliness drives her to make an assignation at the Hart Inn – which is where, inevitably, everything changes. For the Hart is in turmoil once more, captured by a small group of French raiders led by the wildly reckless Captain Armand le Noir - who always succeeds in the end. Dazzled by Isabelle’s beauty, Armand regards her at first much like the task in hand – a distraction from his own pain. But the Hart seems to work its magic and inconvenient attraction gets in the way of both unwise assignation and the search for lost prisoners of war. With the raiders only partially foiled, the adventure sweeps from the inn to a neighborhood ball and then to France itself. Amidst the constant danger and the intensity of their growing love, Isabelle and Armand live on the edge of betraying each other or their own loyalties. But someone is manipulating them, the true enemy is unclear, and in the end they must both risk everything to be together. The Unmarriageable Series The Deserted Heart The Sinister Heart The Vulgar Heart The Broken Heart The Weary Heart The Secret Heart less

Pride versus passion Sir Marcus Dain lives for adventure. Most other things, including his large estates and his inevitable marriage, he considers wearily to be matters of duty rather than pleasure. Until he encounters fearless, intriguing governess, Miss Helen Milsom, at the Hart Inn.Sparks fly in terms of both temper and desire, but something in this quite unsuitable woman touches his cynical heart. Then old promises and devious, matchmaking mamas get in the way... morePride versus passion Sir Marcus Dain lives for adventure. Most other things, including his large estates and his inevitable marriage, he considers wearily to be matters of duty rather than pleasure. Until he encounters fearless, intriguing governess, Miss Helen Milsom, at the Hart Inn.Sparks fly in terms of both temper and desire, but something in this quite unsuitable woman touches his cynical heart. Then old promises and devious, matchmaking mamas get in the way.Helen, having lost her chance of marriage ten years ago, is resigned to spinsterhood. Holding onto pride, which has seen her through many difficulties, she fights her inappropriate attraction, even when she is falsely accused and loses her position, and Sir Marcus offers her only safety.Misunderstandings and the villainous behaviour of Helen’s one-time betrothed, combine to part them, but Marcus will not give up and sets out to remove all the obstacles to their happy-ever-after. less

Betrayal, temptation and an impossible love.The final book in the Unmarriageable series...Some suspect that Lily Villin is the true heart of the Hart Inn, a lucky house where love always seems to blossom, whatever the obstacles. But Lily has another secret. She is in love with an enigmatic nobleman, and no luck in the world can make such a marriage possible.Randolph, Lord Torbridge, is a man of many secrets, in pursuit of a well-born traitor... moreBetrayal, temptation and an impossible love.The final book in the Unmarriageable series...Some suspect that Lily Villin is the true heart of the Hart Inn, a lucky house where love always seems to blossom, whatever the obstacles. But Lily has another secret. She is in love with an enigmatic nobleman, and no luck in the world can make such a marriage possible.Randolph, Lord Torbridge, is a man of many secrets, in pursuit of a well-born traitor. But his visits to the Hart have increasingly less to do with his vital work than with the innkeeper's beautiful daughter—until he discovers her gift for mimicry and enrolls her in a dangerous masquerade to unmask the enemy.Being with her brings temptations he struggles to resist, for he will not ruin her, and he cannot marry so far beneath his rank. For once, it is not Lily's talents, but his own, which are needed for this love to blossom—along with a little luck and ingenuity. less

No room at the Hart Inn… After her first ever serious quarrel with her husband, Charlotte, the young Duchess of Alvan, flees to her parents’ home for Christmas, taking her baby son and her dog. However, when the road is blocked by snow, she has to seek refuge at the Hart—and all the rooms are full. In the end, she has to share an old stable with a highly suspicious neighbor, a thief and a depressed rake. But there are plenty of unexpected gifts that night, and love is the greatest of them all... moreNo room at the Hart Inn… After her first ever serious quarrel with her husband, Charlotte, the young Duchess of Alvan, flees to her parents’ home for Christmas, taking her baby son and her dog. However, when the road is blocked by snow, she has to seek refuge at the Hart—and all the rooms are full. In the end, she has to share an old stable with a highly suspicious neighbor, a thief and a depressed rake. But there are plenty of unexpected gifts that night, and love is the greatest of them all. (Note: This story was first published as part of the Bestselling Boxed set Stars are Brightly Shining, November 2019) less