The Necklace VIII — Linda S. Rice

As the scene moves from London to Brighton after the Season ends, the cream of the ton follows Prinny, the Prince Regent, to Brighton, curious about his royal guests, a Persian Prince and a Danish Princess who have been betrothed since Princess Petrina's birth. When Susan and Princesses Petrina develop a close friendship, Susan's outrage at pre-arranged marriages rubs off on the impressionable young girl and pushes her into mutiny against Prince Zayan. A royal scandal is on the brink of erupting.Meanwhile, Susan and James must struggle to keep their betrothal intact. The Duchess, Susan's mother, jealous of her daughter's love match and determined to marry her to a man of higher status than Viscount James Lynton, continues to plot against the couple. Lord Pelman, the Duchess's choice for her daughter and heir to a dukedom, conspires with her t0 end Susan's engagement to James. By doing so, Pelman will not only be able to restore himself in his father's good graces but will be able to cover his reckless high-stakes gaming debts. But what will Lord Pelman do when the Duke discovers the Duchess's part in the plot and banishes her to a cousin in the highlands of Scotland? Is he desperate enough to marry a young and titled heiress that he will stoop to any and all underhanded means to make it happen?When Susan flees to Brighton for London to escape the plot conceived by her mother and Pelman, she is startled to discover James there being tended by a doctor after being shot by highwaymen. She receives another shock when she discovers two strangers at Bradford House with her father who he introduces to her as her half-brothers by Lady Harrington, Nigel, and Caleb.Nigel, the Duke's first love child with Lady Harrington, returns to Brighton with Susan and falls in love with Princess Petrina's cousin, Carmen, while his second son, Caleb, is discovered to be in a romantic relationship with Sir William Campbell, a violinist who shares his love of music and the arts...as well as his bed...a dangerous situation should they be exposed.Last but not least...What other calamities will befall James and Susan as they do their best to wait out an entire year before they can wed? Will they be able to endure the restraints society demands as well as Lord Pelman's evil plot to abduct the rich heiress?But most of all, will their tempestuous relationship and volatile personalities survive the many challenges of going back over 200 years in time?