The poor relation

Life is not easy for the poor relations of England's upper crust. Periodically they are dusted off and conveyed to some relative's stately home, where they make themselves inconspicuous, hoping the regular meals will last as long as possible. Desperate to keep up appearances, these unfortunates keep their misery to themselves, until one momentous day when Lady Fortescue meets Colonel Sandhurst in Hyde Park. Upon seeing the Colonel's tattered yet dignified...

Cut off by her relations, pretty dainty widow Eliza Budley must visit some other family manor to purloin expensive baubles. Happily, the Marquess of Peterhouse is in his dotage and wouldn't know a relative from a bedpost, so Eliza is sent to play the imposter. But Eliza is met by the new Marquess - wickedly handsome and with all his wits about him. Somehow Eliza finds herself confessing her bluff to him and he in turn is much taken with her daring...

Set in Regency England, a comedy of errors featuring Frederica Gray, a rich heiress who has fled to the colonel's Poor Relations Hotel to avoid an arranged marriage. Fifth volume in the series.