title: The Virgin's Secret (Lost City)
author:  Victoria Alexander 
description: Launching a series of adventure-flavored historical romances, Alexander (<I>Seduction of a Proper Gentleman</I>) describes Victorian-era amateur archeology as a cutthroat business. Gabriella Montini, mourning her slain brother, is determined to continue his quest for a priceless ancient seal that could help locate the lost city of Ambropia. When Gabriella breaks into the home of a man she suspects of hiding the seal, his brother, handsome adventurer Nathaniel Harrington, catches her and insists on joining her mission. Episodes of skulking and confrontation ensue through the ballrooms, mansions and bedrooms of London. Gabriella is a likable heroine with a few secrets of her own, and Nathaniel proves easy to love. A pleasant subplot describes Gabriella's reunion with her late mother's family. Two additional seals and Nathaniel's two brothers will presumably require two sequels. <I>(May)</I> <BR>Copyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  Victoria Alexander
  
  The Virgin’s Secret
  
  ![](images/00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The book is dedicated with affection and thanks  
  to Mariah Stewart  
  for the loan of Alistair McGowan and Shandihar;  
  to Amy Mayberry,  
  who tries her best to keep me on track;  
  and to my friend Irene Mercatante,  
  who is Most Excellent in so many ways.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  [Prologue](index_split_003.html#filepos7256)
  
  We aren’t supposed to be up here,” Sterling Harrington said…
  
  [One](index_split_004.html#filepos19961)
  
  It appears the natives are particularly restless this year.” Nathanial…
  
  [Two](index_split_005.html#filepos53929)
  
  Only the top half of her face was visible over…
  
  [Three](index_split_006.html#filepos76505)
  
  Gabriella’s heart thudded in her chest. Most annoying, as she’d…
  
  [Four](index_split_007.html#filepos115388)
  
  Excellent,” Miss Montini murmured, her gaze still on the papers…
  
  [Five](index_split_008.html#filepos140273)
  
  There was indeed a servant waiting to escort her to…
  
  [Six