Red, Red Rose

Unconventional Elspeth Gordon followed the drum because her father was an officer in the Napoleonic wars. But when her carriage was attacked by ruthless Spanish bandits, it was Lieutenant Val Aston who rescued her. Though Elspeth fell in love with Val, he was a man of honor who considered his birth far beneath hersthough he, too, found his heart captured by Elspeth. Regency Historical by Marjorie Farrell; originally published by Topaz In Regency England, the unconventional daughter of a army major finds herself rescued from roving bandits by a dashing officer from General Wellington's staff. But even as the officer courts the young lady, he is haunted by his status as a bastard son to the Earl of Farringdon, and considers himself unworthy of her affections. When his half-brother dies, he is overcome with grief and allows himself to find solace in her arms. Will her love inspire the necessary courage within him to claim his birthright, and his place among the aristocracy? Lieutenant Val Aston saved Elspeth Gordon from Spanish bandits and became the object of her desires, "but for reasons unknown to Elspeth, the handsome young officer resisted her love ... in spite of a passion that grew stronger every day."--Cover A nominee for the Romantic Times's Lifetime Achievement Award pairs an officer's daughter with a brave Regency soldier who rescues her from the predations of Spanish bandits but cannot escape his own past to return her affections. Original.