To tempt the devil : a novel of Lord Hawkesbury's Players

Hes dark and dangerousand she cant stay away Seven years have passed since Rafe Fletcher fled London. Now he has returned to make amends, only to find his brother, James, bound for debtors prison. Unable to clear Jamess debts, Rafe does the next best thing, promising to watch over his brothers betrothed in his absence. Theres just one the shy, sweet girl he once knew has grown into an alluring young womanone who wants absolutely nothing to do with a man like him. Lizzy Croft isnt fooled by Rafes dark good looks; she remembers all too well the hot-headed rogue he once was. But when Lizzy is framed for murder, she has no choice but to trust the man who once beat his brutish stepfather half to death, the man whose recent past is shrouded in mysterythe man who is slowly, inexorably winning her heart. Loving him would be the greatest risk of all "For years, Rafe Fletcher wandered the world, an assassin-for-hire and one of Europe's most feared swordsmen. It's a fitting life for a man who once beat his own brutish stepfather half to death, one of many sins for which he hopes to atone upon his return to London. Yet redemption proves elusive when he reunites with Lizzy Croft. A child when Rafe left, Lizzy remembers her dear friend's brooding brother all too well. And though dismayed to now find herself drawn to his dark good looks, she hasn't forgotten how dangerous he can be. She dare not trust him -- until the Master of Revels is murdered and Lizzy becomes the prime suspect. Suddenly Rafe is the only man she can trust, the only man who can protect her as they race to unmask the true killer. As her heart begins to thaw to the mysterious rogue, Lizzy wonders if loving him is the greatest risk of all"--Page 4 of cover