The Runaway Heart (The Gordons of Gretna Book 1)

Description

A desperate bid for freedom leaves Isabella more trapped than ever, when her eloping to Gretna Green ends in tragedy. Can the dashing Drew save her, or will he send her back to London in disgrace . . . ?

Regency England/Scotland, January 1818

Lady Isabella is desperate to escape from her overbearing father. She and a childhood friend, Linus, scheme to “ruin” her, fleeing from London to Gretna to be married, so they can both inherit their fortunes once they wed.

An attack by highwaymen changes everything: Linus is killed just before they can reach Gretna. Isabella will be ruined in earnest if she can’t come up with a plan to save herself from scandal, which in Regency London is a fate worse than death.

Dashing local Scottish aristocrat Drew Gordon rescues Isabella from the road, injured and terrified. As she confesses her desperate plight, his heart goes out to the lovely young woman. And more . . .

Drew’s dark family secret has caused him to swear off forever any chance of marriage or having children. But meeting Isabella makes him long to break out of his lonely shell. He tries to persuade her to stay in Gretna by offering her lessons on how to become a regal lady, not a shy young girl, by helping on his estate. Every day that passes, he falls more in love with her than ever, and she clearly feels the same.

Drew’s secret means Isabella can never stay. But how can he ever let her go? Drew and Isabella must risk all if they’re ever to win a future together, before Isabella’s enemies seal her dire fate . . .