"Regency romances never seem to lose their popularity and fans of Amanda Grange won't be disappointed in this one. The story is well plotted and we have no difficulty in believing that the strong-minded Eleanor Grantham would be driven to desperate measures in her efforts to protect her younger sister from a blackmailer. When she meets the mysterious Earl of Silverton, the scene is set for abduction, espionage, treachery and murder...Both hero and heroine are attractive characters and we follow their adventures with interest as the tale moves along at a cracking pace. Amanda Grange is not afraid of dialogue and she uses it to good effect as she takes us into the privileged world of the rich in 1810." - Margaret Crosland, Historical Novel Society

"This is another sprightly romance from Ms Grange, the author of five other novels all published by Robert Hale. She has the right light touch. As well as romance she has woven in mystery, murder and various other plot twists and turns and with the added delight of the usual balls and parties . . . This ought to appeal to anybody who likes their romances seasoned with mystery." -Rachel Hyde, My Shelf

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Extract

'Not much further now,' said the clergyman sitting next to Eleanor in the coach. 'Then we'll be stopping for the night.'

Eleanor was relieved. Though not uncomfortable, the journey had been long and she was looking forward to a rest. Even so, she was apprehensive about what would happen when the coach stopped. She must speak to Mr Kendrick, that much was clear, but she had no idea whether he could be made to return the letters for the fifty guineas she had in her purse. She hoped so. But if he couldn't, what then? Fortunately, at that moment, her despondent thoughts were broken into by the sound of galloping hooves. She looked out of the window. The stagecoach had met with few other travellers on its journey, and none at all since dusk had started to fall. The horseman provided her thoughts with a welcome distraction. She was just wondering whether it would be a young buck, riding to a local dinner party, or a man of commerce, returning home after a busy day, when a loud cry rent the air.

'Stand and deliver!'

There was a moment of disbelief as the passengers looked at one another, and then a mood of panic broke out in the coach. The bony clergyman crossed himself, crying, 'Lord, spare us!' whilst the stout matron sitting next to him gasped, 'Mercy me!'

Mr Kendrick did not seem frightened. He did, however, hold on to his case more tightly than ever.

What a pity, thought Eleanor. If he had let go of it, then in the confusion she might have been able to open it and see if the letters were inside. As he was leaving Bath, there was a possibility that he had decided to take Arabella's letters with him. They were worth a great deal of money to him if he could blackmail Arabella into paying him a thousand guineas for them, and he would probably not want to leave anything so valuable behind. But there was no chance of her looking now.

She glanced out of the window to see what was happening. The coach driver was wrestling with the horses and trying to stop them rearing as he brought the coach to a sudden halt. Ahead of him, sitting astride a coal-black horse, was a tall figure swathed in a dark cloak. Eleanor peered through the gloom and tried to make out the highwayman's features, but even in the daylight it would have been difficult, and in the fading light it was impossible. A black handkerchief was tied across the lower half of his face, and a tricorne hat was pulled down low over his eyes.

Motioning with his pistols the highwayman ordered the coachman down from his box. Then he turned his attention to the passengers on the roof and indicated that they were to follow. When they were lined up in a row at the side of the road, the highwayman rode over to the door of the coach. His eyes ran over the passengers inside and one by one they looked away, unable to meet his gaze. But Eleanor did not. Instead of looking away she returned his regard.