The Fontainebleau Fan is the first of my Zebra Regency Romances, published in paperback in 2003.
High-born Meg Hayward averts poverty by stitching and hand-painting trifles for the ton, until her exquisite copy of an antique fan is mistakenly sold as the original to the righteous Earl of Wakefield. Resentful of his notion that she swindled him, Meg nevertheless agrees to redecorate his conservatory at Wakefield Hall. Until the handsome lord's attentions make her eager to finish it and escape.
High-born Meg Hayward averts poverty by stitching and hand-painting trifles for the ton, until her exquisite copy of an antique fan is mistakenly sold as the original to the righteous Earl of Wakefield. Resentful of his notion that she swindled him, Meg nevertheless agrees to redecorate his conservatory at Wakefield Hall. Until the handsome lord's attentions make her eager to finish it and escape.
Wealthy Miss Rosalind Elliot is all too aware of what she represents to prospective suitors. In her golden hair they see the coin of the realm; in her sapphire blue eyes, the value of her investments. She fears becoming hard hearted, yet would rather settle into a dignified spinsterhood than make an attachment with a fortune-hungry man. But her quiet life in Bath becomes considerably more exciting with the arrival of the dashing Captain Philip Caldwell, who brings with him his elderly aunt – her grandmother’s nemesis-- and an aura of intrigue.
Caroline Parker spends her days training her ponies. Then her mother insists she embark upon a London season to snare a husband….Thomas Ogden has acquitted himself with courage. But seeking a rich wife fills him with foreboding. Becoming Caroline’s ally in the business of finding a mate makes life tolerable…until he realizes he’ll never accept any man as Caroline’s husband.
Eleanor Milford is forced to aid her cousin Priscilla find a husband on the London marriage mart. Worse yet, one of the potential suitors turns out to be Eleanor’s true love, Griffith, now Lord Preston. She’d turned him down years before for all the wrong reasons but she’s always yearned for him. What will happen when Norrie and Griff come face to face? Can she regain his desire, or will he succumb to Priscilla’s handsome fortune?
Cordelia Bransford expects to spend a quiet summer at opulent Lodesham Hall assisting her cousin with a pair of small children. Her expectations are quite spoiled when she finds that Lord Matthew Allerton, the very gentleman she’d fallen in love with years ago, would also be staying at the Hall. Corey’s future will be decided soon, when she finds a position as a governess or a ladies’ companion in order to help her parents retire to Bath. But first she has to prevent anyone from finding out her secrets, surprises Lord Mathew intends to discover—because Matt has his own secrets.
When widowed Elizabeth Drayton arrives in London, she intends to establish her independence and live on her own. But her friends insist on playing matchmaker by pairing her with numerous potential suitors. Widower Harry Marlowe, a dedicated botanist, is similarly tormented because his meddlesome sister presents him to all her lady friends. To halt the interfering busybodies, Elizabeth and Harry conspire together to concoct a sham betrothal. But when they start falling in love, the charade threatens their long-held plans for the future.