A Most Dangerous Profession
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“Was he blackmailing you, Moira?”
T
he gentle words filled Moira’s heart with such longing that tears filled her eyes. If only she could tell Robert, explain things, lean on him,
trust
him. But she already knew the cost of trust—and she couldn’t take the risk.
She pulled her wrist from Robert’s grasp, turning away to swipe the tears from her eyes. “Don’t be foolish. . . . I don’t know anything about your precious onyx box. If I did, do you think I’d be here?”
A flicker of something crossed his face—was it disappointment?
He shrugged. “You must have thought it
might
be here, or you’d never have come.”
“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t believe you . . . Mrs.
MacJames
.” He almost spit the name.
“You don’t like it? MacJames is a time-honored name that—”
“I doubt you know your real name anymore, but I do. It’s Moira MacAllister—
Hurst
.”
“An entertaining romantic battle of wits . . .
[a] humor-rich historical.”
—
Chicago Tribune
on
Scandal in Scotland
Praise for
The Hurst Amulet Series
“Known for her quick-moving, humorous, and poignant stories, Hawkins begins the Hurst Amulet series with a keeper. Readers will be delighted by the perfect pacing, the humorous dialogue, and the sizzling sensual romance.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, Top Pick)
“A lively romp, the perfect beginning to [Hawkins’s] new series.”
—
Booklist
“Couldn’t put it down. . . . Ms. Hawkins is one of the most talented historical romance writers out there.”
—Romance Junkies (5 stars)
“Charming and witty.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“An adventurous romance filled with laughter, passion, and emotion . . . mystery, threats, and plenty of sexual tension, plus an engaging premise which will keep you thoroughly entertained during each highly captivating scene. . . .
One Night in Scotland
holds your attention from beginning to end. . . . ”
—Single Titles
“With its creative writing, interesting characters, and well-crafted situations and dialogue,
One Night in Scotland
is an excellent read. Be assured it lives up to all the virtues one has learned to expect from this talented writer.”
—Romance Reviews Today
The MacLean Curse Series
“Delightfully humorous, poignant, and highly satisfying novels: that’s what Hawkins always delivers.”
—
Romantic Times
“A delicious flirtation. . . . Humor, folklore, and sizzling love scenes lend [
Much Ado About Marriage
] the perfect incentive for not wanting to put it down.”
—
Winter Haven News Chief
(Florida)
“
The Laird Who Loved Me
is delightful in every way.”
—Reader To Reader
“Fast, sensual, and brilliant. . . .
To Catch a Highlander
is romance at its best!”
—Romance and More
“
How to Abduct a Highland Lord
is laced with passion and drama, and with its wonderfully romantic and thrilling ending, it’s a story you don’t want to miss!”
—JoyfullyReviewed
and Karen Hawkins
“Always funny and sexy, a Karen Hawkins book is a sure delight!”
—bestselling author Victoria Alexander
“Karen Hawkins writes fast, fun, and sexy stories that are a perfect read for a rainy day, a sunny day, or any day at all!”
—bestselling author Christina Dodd
“Karen Hawkins will make you laugh and touch your heart.”
—bestselling author Rachel Gibson
All the titles in the Hurst Amulet series and
The MacLean Curse series are also available as eBooks
A
LSO
BY
K
AREN
H
AWKINS
T
HE
H
URST
A
MULET
S
ERIES
One Night in Scotland
Scandal in Scotland
T
HE
M
AC
L
EAN
C
URSE
S
ERIES
How to Abduct a Highland Lord
To Scotland, With Love
To Catch a Highlander
Sleepless in Scotland
The Laird Who Loved Me
C
ONTEMPORARY
R
OMANCE
Talk of the Town
Lois Lane Tells All
O
THER
Much Ado About Marriage
Available from Pocket Books
| Pocket Books |
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Karen Hawkins
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Pocket Books paperback edition November 2011
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.
Cover illustration by Alan Ayers, hand lettering by Ron Zinn
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 978-1-4391-7594-1
ISBN 978-1-4391-7602-3 (ebook)
For my husband, aka Hot Cop, who knows me well
and loves me still.
You are the heart of my heart.
Dear Reader,
In this book, there is a reference to a woman named Princess Caraboo who was one of the most notable shysters throughout history. In 1817, she managed to convince many people—some of them quite high in society—that she was a lost princess from an exotic land who’d been kidnapped by pirates. According to “Princess Caraboo,” a title given to her by her avid supporters and an even more eager press, after weeks of imprisonment, she’d escaped the pirates’ evil clutches by jumping overboard and swimming to shore, where she was found wandering through the parish of Almondsbury, near Bristol.
There’s not enough room on this page to give the details of her entire deceit, but suffice it to say that she was not a princess, nor had she ever been kidnapped from an exotic land by pirates. The impostor’s real name was Mary Willcocks Baker, and she was the daughter of a very poor family and had spent most of her life wandering from job to job and practicing the art of deception.
If you want to read more about the outrageous Princess Caraboo (and I encourage you to do so), look online for
Caraboo: A Narrative of a Singular Imposition
by John Matthew Gutch. Written in 1817, it gives a detailed account of how she came to be the darling of society, and how her deceit was unmasked.
I hope you enjoy learning about Princess Caraboo as much as I did. She’s a fascinating creature in the footnotes of history.
All best,
Karen
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