The Legend of Nimway Hall: 1750: Jacqueline

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens brings you the opening story in a series of romances touched by magic as old as time. A gentleman fleeing the bonds of loveless marriage and a lady in desperate need of a champion join forces to defend an ancient legacy. Jacqueline Tregarth lady and guardian of Nimway Hall is devoted to protecting her people the Hall the estates wood and its farms. She yearns for a husband to help her meet the challenges but all those seeking her hand are interested only in controlling her lands. With the estates stream running dry and summer looming she sets men digging to reopen an old spring. Her workers discover a dirt-encrusted ornament buried at the spot; once removed water flows and fills the old lake-and Jacqueline realizes the ornament is some kind of ancient orb. Meanwhile Lord Richard Devries overly-eligible darling of the ton fights free of kidnappers seeking to force him to offer for some ladys hand. But on escaping into the countryside he gets lost in Balesboro Wood and stumbles on a covert scheme to divert a stream. Later he finds his way to Nimway Hall where the household is celebrating a spring running again. Richard is welcomed and meets the fascinating Miss Tregarth. That his youthful hostess is disinclined to bat her lashes at him piques his interest yet after his recent experiences he feels safe in her company-for him an unusual and comforting experience. Indeed everything about Nimway Hall is calming and soothing. Then Richard makes the connection between what he saw in the wood and the Halls recent water shortage and leads Jacqueline and her men to the diversion in the wood. Subsequently he learns of the various men pursuing Jacqueline and recognizes the danger to her and to the Hall. Although self-protective instinct presses him to travel on his lamed horse has yet to recover and despite all inner warnings Richard feels compelled to step into the role of a supportive protector. Aided and abetted by the household the estate community Balesboro Wood and the ancient orb propinquity works its magic seducing Richard with a role into which he and his talents fit perfectly and tempting Jacqueline to hope that her champion has finally found his way to her side. If the tales told of those snared by Balesboro Wood and sent to the Hall are true then... Yet true love never runs smoothly and both Richard and Jacqueline must search within embrace their destinies and find the courage to seize their hearts one true desire-all just in time to foil a dastardly plan that would wreck all they and the Halls people hold dear. First in series. A historical novel of 73000 words interweaving romance mystery and magic.Praise for the works of Stephanie Laurens Stephanie Laurens heroines are marvelous tributes to Georgette Heyer: feisty and strong. Cathy KellyStephanie Laurens never fails to entertain and charm her readers with vibrant plots snappy dialogue and unforgettable characters. Historical Romance Reviews Stephanie Laurens plays into readers fantasies like a master and claims their hearts time and again. Romantic Times Magazine