title: Deadly Caress (Francesca Cahill Romance Novels)
author:  Brenda Joyce 
description: <div>PRAISE FOR THE FRANCESCA CAHILL NOVELS<br><br>"SCINTILLATING."<br>--Romantic Times on Deadly Affairs<br><br>"GREAT READING!"<br>--<i>Huntressreviews.com </i><br><br>"CAPTIVATING...DAZZLING."<br>--<i>Writers Club Romance</i> on <i>Deadly Pleasure</i><br><br>"Joyce excels at creating twists and turns in her characters' personal lives." <br>-<i>Publishers Weekly</i><br><br>"Fast-paced, sensual, and intriguing." <br><i>-Library Journal </i>on <i>Deadly Love</i><br></div>
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  # DEADLY CARESS
  
  ##  
   _Brenda Joyce_
  
    
  St. Martin's Paperbacks  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### CHAPTER ONE
  
  New York City—Tuesday, February 18, 1902—9:00 p.m.  
  
  Francesca Cahill prided herself on her common sense, her steady character, and
  her intellect. In fact, throughout the city she was considered a bluestocking
  and a reformer but also an eccentric. This was all much to her formidable
  mother's dismay. Mrs. Julia Van Wyck Cahill, one of society's leading matrons,
  wanted nothing more than to see her daughter successfully wed. Francesca,
  however, had other plans. Because recently, she had become rather infamous as
  the city's most successful amateur sleuth. It meant she often had quite a bit
  of explaining to do.
  
  And today, Francesca had received the most stunning proposal of marriage from
  the city's most eligible (and most notorious) bachelor, Calder Hart. How happy
  Julia would be should she learn of his desire to marry her. Francesca was
  terrified of Julia and Hart conspiring agains