Miss Emma Harlow hasn’t earned the reputation as a hoyden for nothing. So when the Duke of Trent discovers her in his conservatory stealing one of his orchids, he’s isn’t surprised—charmed, delighted and puzzled, yes, but not surprised. It is Emma who is amazed. She has naturally concluded that the man reading in the conservatory must be the country cousin (who else in London would actually read?) and is quite vexed to discover that he is the Duke of Trent himself—imagine, stealing the duke’s prize Rhyncholaelia digbyana under his very nose!

Lynn Messina is the author of over a dozen novels, including the Beatrice Hyde-Clare regency cosy crime series, translated into 9 languages, and Fashionistas, which has been translated into 16 languages. Her essays have appeared in Self, American Baby and the Modern Love column of The New York Times. She’s also a regular contributor to the Times Motherlode blog. Lynn lives in New York City with her two sons.