Undone

Though celebrated in Irish society for her extraordinary beauty, Elizabeth Gunning is just playing a part. The supposed daughter of Viscount Mayo is in fact a common woman of uncommon appearance. And if her domineering mother has her say, Elizabeth is going to keep up the charade and take London society by storm. With her golden hair and violet eyes, Elizabeth has men falling at her feet, but only one has captured her heart: John Campbell, the rakishly handsome Duke of Argyll. If she surrenders to his smoldering gaze and heated touch, she’ll be playing with fire. Because only John knows her deepest secret, and knows just how to unleash the passion within her.

Known for her "passionate love scenes and steamy fantasies" (Booklist), New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley pens a seductive tale of an extraordinary beauty, her heady deception, and the duke who knows her inside and out...

Publishers Weekly

The true story of lowborn but beautiful Elizabeth Gunning (1733-1790), who took Georgian England by storm and became a duchess twice, is vividly fictionalized in this unconventional romance from Henley (Ravished, etc.). Born into an impoverished family, Elizabeth and her older sister Maria, both aspiring actresses, apply their talents offstage when their ambitious mother decides they should pose as members of the minor nobility. In London, their bold maneuvering, good fortune and the girls' own magnificence catapults them into society, where they draw the attention of noblemen and even the heir to the throne. The one man who knows Elizabeth's secret is John Campbell, the future Duke of Argyll, whose love for her isn't enough-at least initially-to overcome the difference in their status. She's also coveted, for much darker reasons, by John's enemy, the powerful Duke of Hamilton. The details of the Gunnings' rise will delight; at one point, the fearless Mrs. Gunning hires actors to mob her daughters whenever they appear in public and an actress to play their ladies' maid. Possessing all the sensuality and glitter of a more traditional romance but enriched by the plot's complexity and the heroine's genuine growth, this captivating tale will leave readers amply satisfied. (Dec.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Known for her "passionate love scenes and steamy fantasies" (Booklist), New York Times bestselling author Virginia Henley pens a seductive tale of an extraordinary beauty, her heady deception, and the duke who knows her inside and out... The Impostress Though celebrated in Irish society for her extraordinary beauty, Elizabeth Gunning is just playing a part. The supposed daughter of Viscount Mayo is in fact a common woman of uncommon appearance. And if her domineering mother has her say, she is going to keep up the charade—and take London society by storm. The Duchess With her golden hair and violet eyes, Elizabeth has men falling at her feet, but only one has captured her heart— John Campbell, the rakishly handsome Duke of Argyll. If she surrenders to his smoldering gaze and heated touch, she’ll be playing with fire. Because only John knows her deepest secret—and knows just how to unleash the passion within her... Beautiful Elizabeth Gunning, one of a family of Irish actors, is prompted by her mother to pose as an aristocrat in order to find a wealthy husband in London, but her heart belongs to the handsome Duke of Argyll, whose unfortunate knowledge of Elizabeth's secret keeps him from making a marriage proposal