"Fantastic historical romance with just the right touch of conflict and suspense."

Following the elopement of his fiancée with another man, Arthur Lancaster, Earl of St. Merryn, finds himself in need of a prospective wife. However, this time he's going to approach the matter in a more logical fashion, just as he does his investments. Besides, it's not as if he's looking for a permanent attachment or the great love of his life - he only needs an attractive woman, who's also sensible and intelligent, to masquerade as his betrothed for a short time. You see, Arthur has plans to unmask a vicious killer among the ton and a fake fiancée will be an excellent cover as he goes about his stealthy business. He decides that the best, quickest and most sensible solution to his dilemma is to hire a paid companion.

However, that course of action is not as easy as it seemed when first planned. Finding the right candidate proves to be a challenge. Then Arthur has the good fortune to meet the fiery and forthright Miss Elenora Lodge in the offices of the Goodhew & Willis Agency. With one look, his famous intuition tells him she'll be the best investment he's ever made.

Elenora's current financial situation, along with her lost dreams of a life of independence, make it impossible for her to decline St. Merryn's generous offer of employment. It doesn't take long for her to figure out that he's hiding something about this already unusual arrangement, and his gloomy, ill-run London home and its servants prove to be another challenge. Then Elenora finds herself a pawn in the killer's dangerous game, and Arthur doesn't know what to do to prevent it.

After many heated discussions, Elenora insists on helping Arthur in his quest to catch the killer. This further fuels the simmering passion between them, which eventually erupts into something neither of them expected.

I loved the strong, determined, passionate, equally-matched Elenora and Arthur, as well as their supporting cast of characters. The mystery adds just the right amount of conflict and suspense. THE PAID COMPANION is another fantastic historical romance from this multi-talented author!

Reviewed by Tanzey Cutter
Posted April 14, 2004

Summary

The Earl of St. Merryn needs a woman. His intentions are purely practical—he simply wants someone sensible and suitably lovely to pose as his betrothed for a few weeks among polite society. He has his own agenda to pursue, and a false fiancée will keep the husband-hunters at bay while he goes about his business. The simplest solution is to hire a paid companion.

Finding the right candidate proves more of a challenge than he expected. But when he encounters Miss Elenora Lodge, the fire in her golden eyes sways him to make a generous offer.

Her sorry financial circumstances—and dreams of a life of independence—convince her to accept. But St. Merryn appears to be hiding a secret or two, and things seem oddly amiss in his gloomy London home. Elenora soon discovers that this lark will be a far more dangerous adventure than she'd been led to believe. And the Earl of St. Merryn will find that the meek and mild companion he'd initially envisioned has become a partner in his quest to catch a killer—and an outspoken belle of the ball who stirs a bothersome passion in his practical heart.