title: To Catch an Heiress
author:  Julia Quinn 
description: Caroline Trent is fed up with her greedy guardian, Oliver Prewitt, and his nitwit son, Percy. With only six weeks to go until she can claim her inheritance and rid herself of them, Percy attempts to forcibly seduce her. Fortunately, Caroline has a pistol at hand and she uses it--wounding the annoying man just enough to allow her to escape. Fuming, she flees the dark manor house determined to find employment and hide from her guardian for six weeks. But a bad night turns worse when a tall, dark stranger accosts her. Blake Ravenscroft thinks Caroline is a female spy, part of Oliver Prewitt's smuggling activities that include spying for Napoleon. He kidnaps Caroline, ties her to a bed at his nearby home, and grills her unsuccessfully before a friend arrives and tells Blake that he's captured the wrong woman. Caroline explains her predicament and, given what he knows of the larcenous Oliver Prewitt, Blake has no option but to offer her shelter. Caroline isn't a woman accustomed to sitting in the parlor sipping tea, especially while Blake's investigation has him involved in far more exciting, life-threatening activities. Blake isn't a man accustomed to having a woman ignore his commands. Sparks fly and passion sizzles between these two characters while a cast of endearing characters provide well-meaning assistance. <i>To Catch an Heiress</i> is both warm and wonderful, with witty dialogue and endearing characters. <i>--Lois Faye Dyer</i>
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  ![](images/00012.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  An unexpected proposal...
  
  For the runaway heiress!
  
  After escaping to avoid an arranged marriage, American heiress Madeline
  Macooish stows away aboard a ship bound for England. She’s rescued by Rees
  Dalton and spends the night in his cabin. Knowing her reputation is
  compromised, she accepts Rees’s offer of a temporary marriage. Drawn to his
  honest heart, Madeline begins to imagine wearing his ring forever. Until she
  learns her new husband has a secret identity!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Madeline, from the first time I saw you through the spyglass, I—honestly—I
  liked you, very much.”
  
  “I...” she took a small step toward him; Rees leaned an inch toward her
  “...think...”
  
  With a short leap she was back in his arms. She tipped her face up to him.
  With a smile she cupped her cold fingers on his cheeks and drew his head down.
  
  “I like you, too, very much.”
  
  Her kiss was sweet, and it was steamy and ardent. It was his undoing. He was
  completely captured. How co