The Mysterious Heir

THE EXQUISITE PRETENDER In dress, manner, and speech, Miss Elizabeth DeLisle seemed every inch a leisured lady. No one could guess she had been forced to take a position in trade—or that she had come to the Earl of Auden’s estate to entice him into naming her dismayingly disagreeable cousin Anthony heir to a fortune that she then could share. But Elizabeth had stiff competition for the Earl’s imperious favor…from the schemingly seductive Lady Isabel Courtney and her odious little boy, Owen…from the implacably upright Richard Courtney and his unfortunate honesty…and from the memory of the Earl’s first wife, who had made him despise women who deceived. Elizabeth knew she could never reveal the truth to the Earl—even when she forgot about gaining his fortune and began losing her heart….

"Edith Layton (1938-2009) grew up in Queens, New York, and began writing when she was ten years old. She worked as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines before publishing her first novel, THE DUKE'S WAGER, with Signet/NAL. She won numerous awards, starting in 1984 with The Romantic Times Award for Best New Regency Author and The Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award: Best New Regency Author. She went on to publish over 30 novels and many more short stories. Much of her out-of-print backlist is being reissued by Untreed Reads, as well as never-before-published titles that will be coming soon. Edith Layton also published under her married name, Edith Felber. She was married for over 35 years to her physician husband, Dr. Norbert Felber, and produced three loving children, one of whom is writing this bio..." "Edith Layton (1938-2009) grew up in Queens, New York, and began writing when she was ten years old. She worked as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines before publishing her first novel, THE DUKE'S WAGER, with Signet/NAL. She won numerous awards, starting in 1984 with The Romantic Times Award for Best New Regency Author and The Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award: Best New Regency Author. She went on to publish over 30 novels and many more short stories. Much of her out-of-print backlist is being reissued by Untreed Reads, as well as never-before-published titles that will be coming soon. Edith Layton also published under her married name, Edith Felber. She was married for over 35 years to her physician husband, Dr. Norbert Felber, and produced three loving children, one of whom is writing this bio..." "Edith Layton (1938-2009) grew up in Queens, New York, and began writing when she was ten years old. She worked as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines before publishing her first novel, THE DUKE'S WAGER, with Signet/NAL. She won numerous awards, starting in 1984 with The Romantic Times Award for Best New Regency Author and The Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award: Best New Regency Author. She went on to publish over 30 novels and many more short stories. Much of her out-of-print backlist is being reissued by Untreed Reads, as well as never-before-published titles that will be coming soon. Edith Layton also published under her married name, Edith Felber. She was married for over 35 years to her physician husband, Dr. Norbert Felber, and produced three loving children, one of whom is writing this bio..." "Edith Layton (1938-2009) grew up in Queens, New York, and began writing when she was ten years old. She worked as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines before publishing her first novel, THE DUKE'S WAGER, with Signet/NAL. She won numerous awards, starting in 1984 with The Romantic Times Award for Best New Regency Author and The Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award: Best New Regency Author. She went on to publish over 30 novels and many more short stories. Much of her out-of-print backlist is being reissued by Untreed Reads, as well as never-before-published titles that will be coming soon. Edith Layton also published under her married name, Edith Felber. She was married for over 35 years to her physician husband, Dr. Norbert Felber, and produced three loving children, one of whom is writing this bio..."