The Thorn and the Rose

About the book

An angel of mercy...

When Lord Thomas Barrington, known universally as 'Thorn', falls victim to the man trying to destroy the gent's gambling club, The Sons of Hades, he is beaten and left for dead. Enter a beautiful and mysterious woman who rescues Thorn and nurses him back to health, hidden away in the cellar of the house she inhabits. But the lady known to him only as 'Marie,' refuses to tell him more about herself, about why he must remain out of sight, and seems to live in fear of her domineering brother.

A lovely memory...

In terror of her brother discovering she has harboured a wounded man under his nose, Marie forces Thorn to leave, begging him to forget her and never to think of her again. This is something Thorn cannot do, his chivalrous instincts tell him the woman is in deep trouble, and the memory of his beautiful saviour will not leave his mind.

The lady vanishes...

Still badly concussed and ordered to remain in bed by the family doctor, Thorn sends his mother and brother to call on Marie and thank her for helping him, offering their aid if she should need to escape her brother. But Marie is gone, and the woman now living in the house denies her ever being there.

A dangerous game...

Perplexed and saddened, Thorn must admit to himself that Marie was in league with the man who beat him. She deliberately kept him drugged and insensible for weeks while his family worried themselves sick, believing he may be dead. Knowing it is for the best, Thorn does his best to put her out of his mind, and then comes the letter. Marie writes, begging for his help, and even knowing it is likely a trap, Thorn has no choice but to go to her aid.

Angel or something else?

Whichever she is, Thorn is determined to figure Marie out.