The Earl of Fennington has a secret identity—that of Mr. Pepperidge, editor of London's premiere gossip rag, The Tattler . When he meets and falls in love with an earl's daughter, the attraction is mutual, for despite knowing better, Lady Emelia allows him to kiss her behind a hedgerow. Who will know but them? When the earl asks permission to marry Emelia, her father denies him, requiring him instead to court Emelia for two months. He's only allowed to see her once each week, however. Desperate to spend more time with her, Fennington devises a scheme in which he'll be able to do just that, but in disguise. Emelia will have to meet Mr. Pepperidge in the park once a week to provide him the on-dit she hears whilst paying calls in Mayfair parlors. That, or he'll print the news of her kiss with Fennington in The Tattler! In other news, Jane is considering a move to the Continent—a year of mourning after a loveless marriage has left her wanting something more. When her long lost love Andrew appears at Lord Weatherstone's ball and informs her he'll be spending the evening—and hopefully the rest of his life—with her in London, the future is suddenly looking bright. That is, until The Tattler prints a report of Andrew kissing another woman. Now hurt and angered, Jane sets out to discover the truth while Emelia is about to discover one of her own—all while a new Gossip Goddess shares news of philandering fake aristocrats. With mistaken identities ruling the reports in The Tattler, is it any wonder the members of the ton love to hate gossip? Or do they really love The Gossip of an Earl? The Tattler knows!

A sensual tale of two spies with the same insane assignment - each other. A year after her husband died in the Battle of Ligny, Lady Lydia Barrymore is determined to resume her work for the Foreign Office. She's spent a year solving puzzles and assembling dissected maps to maintain her skills. Her first assignment has her perplexed, though—do what she must to help a fellow operative recover his sanity. Although she finds the man rather beautiful, Sir Donald has also proved most annoying. Newly knighted Adonis “Donald” Truscott returned from the Continent with a tendency to get lost in his thoughts. His frequent episodes of staring into space have his sister claiming he's a candidate for Bedlam—and he's not about to argue. He doesn't always remember where or when he was when he recovers, but he remembers he made a promise, and he's determined to keep it. A promise to provide protection for Lydia, whether she wants it or not. When a puzzle’s directions require Lydia to solve it with the help of Adonis, she discovers the man harbors secrets that may be impossible to reveal. With her own sanity in jeopardy—a year-long mystery involving her late husband may be more dangerous than an errant knight—Lydia will have to piece together a solution that suits them both in “The Enigma of a Widow".

Godfrey, Viscount Thorncastle, has a secret he’d rather not tell anyone, including the woman for whom he has held a candle for over twenty years. Widow Elise Burroughs Batey has had enough of marriage, but pining for the chance at motherhood, she may have to consider Godfrey’s proposal. If he can just get it right. The man believes the rumors about Elise, none of which are true. But then, she has some preconceived notions about him, including one that suggests he’s a man of experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Meanwhile, Adam, Viscount Breckinridge, has finally decided it’s time to marry—or perhaps a pending deadline has him motivated to find a bride. Why not the very first woman he spots from the bow window at White’s? He may not be the best at mathematics, but he’s pretty sure she’s got his number. As an arithmetic teacher and dance instructor at a finishing school, Diana Albright has a secret she’d rather the members of the ton not learn, especially the rather handsome man who has just informed her she will be his bride. What a bounder! Of course his proposal is just a lark... or is it?