“French Intuition” © by Delilah Marvelle. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“A Suitable Gentleman” © by Sara Bennett. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“Gretna Green” © by Sharon Page. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“Little Miss Independent” © by Julia Templeton. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“The Devil’s Bargain” © by Deborah Raleigh. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“Kindred Souls” © by Barbara Metzger. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“Remember” © by Michèle Ann Young. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“Moonlight” © by Carolyn Jewel. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

“An Invitation to Scandal” © by Lorraine Heath. First publication, original to this anthology. Printed by permission of the author.

INTRODUCTION

Sweet, sexy, heartbreaking and erotic, confined by corsets (all that complicated lacing be damned!) or secreted away behind closed doors, love in Regency England was a murky business. It was hardly recognizable — laced into ballgowns, peering out coquettishly from behind ivory-handled fans, whispering inappropriately under the noses of chaperones and being seduced into compromising positions. It was an emotion dealt out cruelly by a voracious and debauched high society on the one hand, and a great hypocrisy of social graces and propriety on the other. With innocence forever in the middle, trampled, torn and abused — as usual.

There were some things love and lovers should not do.