Heart of Fire
As a viscount's daughter, vivacious Coralee Whitmore is perfectly placed to write about London's elite in the outspoken ladies' gazette, Heart to Heart. But beneath her fashionable exterior beats the heart of a serious journalist.So when her sister's death is dismissed as suicide, Corrie vows to uncover the truth, suspecting the notorious Earl of Tremaine was Laurel's lover and the father of her illegitimate child. Corrie infiltrates Castle Tremaine posing as a wide-eyed country relation whose charming figure–and reduced circumstances–make her irresistible to the confirmed scoundrel. But Corrie finds the earl is not all he seems…nor is she immune to his charms, however much she despises his caddish ways.Far from a society column, Corrie's life soon reads more like one of Mr. Dickens's serials. But the danger of her ruse is hardly fictional: someone is bent on ensuring Corrie's questions go unanswered–and unasked.
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Selected praise for New York Times bestselling author Kat Martinâs enchanting new series
âThe first of the new Heart series, Heart of Honor, is a grand way for the author to begin⦠Kat Martin has penned another memorable taleâ¦look forward to Coraleeâs story.â
âRomance Designs
âMartin puts a twist on the captive/captor theme by cleverly combining it with a bit of Pygmalion and a touch of Tarzan for a fast-paced, sensual, entertaining tale.â
âRomantic Times BOOKreviews
âWith an exciting ending and a steamy romance, Heart of Honor is a great book to heat up a winterâs night. Compelling characters and plenty of adventure round out this well-written novel.â
âRomance Reviews Today
âHeart of Honor sweeps the reader away on a tidal wave of emotion, bittersweet, poignant romance and a tantalizing primal sexuality that are the inimitable trademarks of multi-talented author Kat Martin. [It] is the kind of novel that touches your heart and your senses. It is the kind of story you wonât want to put down.â
âWinter Haven News
âMs. Martin always delivers for her readers a romance that they can sink their teeth into. With wonderful characters, beautiful settings and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, you can never go wrong with one of her books. A great winter read!â
âA Romance Review
To children everywhere.
May they all find love, joy and peace.
Contents
One
London, England
January, 1844
An icy drizzle hung over the churchyard. The gravestones stood dark and unreadable in the shadows of the high rock walls of St. Michaelâs Church.
Gowned in layers of heavy black crepe, her face hidden beneath the veil of a wide-brimmed black bonnet, Coralee Whitmore stood next to her father and mother, the Viscount and Viscountess of Selkirk, listening to the drone of the bishopâs words but not really hearing them.
In the casket beside a mound of damp earth, her sisterâs body lay cold and pale, retrieved only days ago from the chilly waters of the Avon River, the victim of a suicide, the authorities claimed. Laurel, they said, had jumped into the river to hide her shame.
âYouâre shivering.â A stiff wind ruffled the viscountâs copper hair, the same fiery shade as Coraleeâs. He was a man of average height and build whose imposing presence made him seem much larger. âThe bishop has finished. It is time we went home.â
Corrie stared at the casket, then down at the long-stemmed white rose she carried in a black-gloved hand. Tears blurred her vision as she moved forward, her legs stiff and numb beneath her heavy black skirt, the veil on her hat fluttering in the cold February breeze. She laid the rose on top of the rosewood casket.
âI donât believe it,â she whispered to the sister she would never see again. âNot for a single moment.â Corrie swallowed against the painful, choking knot in her throat. âFarewell, sweet sister. I shall miss you ever so much.â Turning, she walked toward her parents, the father both sisters shared and the mother who was Corrieâs alone.
Laurelâs mother had died in childbirth. The viscount had remarried, and Corrie had been born soon after. The girls were half sisters, raised together, always close, at least until the past few years. Then Corrieâs job as society editor for Heart to Heart, a London ladiesâ gazette, had begun to absorb more and more of her time.
Laurel, who had always preferred the quiet life of the country, had moved in with her aunt Agnes at Selkirk Hall, the family estate in Wiltshire. The girls kept in touch through letters, but in the last year even those had grown sparse.
If only I could turn back time, Corrie thought, the lump in her throat swelling, becoming even more painful. If only I could have been there when you needed me.
But she had been too busy with her own life, too busy attending the balls and soirées she wrote about in her column. Sheâd been too self-absorbed to realize Laurel was in trouble.
And now her sister was dead.
âAre you all right, Coralee?â
Standing in the Blue Salon of the Whitmoresâ Grosvenor Square mansion, Corrie turned at the sound of her best friendâs voice. Krista Hart Draugr walked toward her across the drawing room, where the pale blue damask curtains had been draped with black crepe, as had the brocade sofa and Hepplewhite chairs.
Corrie reached beneath her heavy black veil to brush a tear from her cheek. âIâll be all right. But I miss her already and I feel soâ¦responsible.â
