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Informationen zum Autor Jo-Ann Power is the author of romance novels, historical fiction, and mysteries. She lives in Texas. Find out more at Jo-AnnPower.com. Klappentext When his ex-wife, Colleen, abducts his only child and much-loved heir, three-year-old Ford, Bryce Falconer, the twelfth earl of Aldersworth, recruits Colleen's sister Augusta to aid in his search--a search that leads them to much more than they were looking for. The third and final book in the "American Beauties" trilogy. Chapter One "I like...[American women] because they are original and bring a little fresh air into Society. They are livelier, better educated and less hampered by etiquette...they are not as squeamish as their English sisters and...better able to take care of themselves." -- Edward, "Bertie," Prince of Wales February 1880 London, England I'll abduct her. If she won't help me, I'll force her. Bryce Falconer smiled sardonically. But the injustice of kidnapping this innocent woman made him curse. He flipped up the collar of his greatcoat against the winter storm that had dogged him south from his home for the past three hours. He could have arrived in London before this damned dinner party started if it hadn't been for the sleet. Yet, now that he had arrived at Forsythe House, he became frozen in place. An ice man, standing in a barren garden, staring at the only person in the world who could help him. And what was Augusta VanderHorn doing as his world was battered by a crime as ugly as the storm around him? Bryce rubbed a gloved finger beneath his eyepatch and studied her. Gussie was doing what she usually did. Chuckling. Tonight she did it with her friends -- and his -- Ann and Rhys Kendall and Raine and Gavin Sutherland. Gussie was bubbling over some matter. Typical of her to do that, to carry on in her own inimitable way, creating a life -- and an identity distinct and apart from her sister, Colleen. Dodging the demands of her mama to marry as nobly and quickly as her notorious sibling. Living down the scandals Colleen created and tarred her with. Joking often. As she was now, and in the bargain, charming the starch out of one more English man. The trilling sound of her voice permeated the panes of glass in the garden doors. The delicacy of it rushed through Bryce, warming him like brandy. Boiling his blood. Damn Colleen! She destroyed his enjoyment of everyone. With this new outrage, she could ruin the best friendship he'd ever enjoyed with a woman. Despite the fact that the very female was his former sister-in-law. Bryce marched toward the kitchen entrance. He hoped to God none of the servants was using the back stairs. He'd scare the hell out of them, breaking in like a thief. He'd do it anyway. He did not want to go in the front doors and confront the Kendalls and the Sutherlands with their questions. He needed to talk to Gussie only. Alone. He pushed in the door and stood a moment inside the threshold. Shivering as the heat of the house chafed his face, he listened for sounds. No servants were on the stairs. No music came from the drawing room. Doors slid open. Voices drifted as people bid each other good-night. Bryce took the stairs two at a time up to the second story where the bedrooms were. He knew where Gussie's was. He had been there before when the suite had belonged to Colleen, before she and he were married...and his life became a daily nightmare. Five years ago, he had entered this way three times. He had proposed to her, she had accepted, they'd set a date for their wedding -- and he could not wait to have his future bride. Colleen was more than cooperative; she encouraged him. She would ensure the lock was off this same door and he would enter at precisely one o'clock, stealthy as a tomcat, up the curving staircase, to her suite on the second floor. There on her chaise longue, she allowed him liberties that whet his ap...
