Ask Me No Questions

“A worthy successor to Georgette Heyer at her very best,” says the Chattanooga Times of Patricia Veryan, whose latest gem in the Tales of the Jewelled Men introduces perhaps her most vibrant and resourceful heroine to date.Young Ruth Allington is a woman in exceptionally dire straits. Her father, brother, and husband have died, leaving her with a disgraced family name, an estate in debt, and two small nephews to support. Her few assets include a quick mind, a superb artistic ability, and her new friendship with the generous—and crafty—Gwendolyn Rossiter. It is Gwendolyn who perpetrates a deception that enables Ruth to work on restoring an ancient mural at the estate of Sir Gordon Chandler.Ruth’s situation is precarious: Such a position is decidedly improper for a young woman, and were Sir Gordon to learn of her true identity or the presence of her nephews, Ruth and the children would be banished from the estate—straight to debtor’s prison.Sir Gordon has troubles of his own in the form of the League of the Jewelled Men, the nefarious conspirators determined to ruin his name and claim his estate. The League will stop at nothing to bring about his downfall, and in his hour of need, Sir Gordon finds he must turn for aid to a woman who has hidden everything from him—including her love.