A Most Unusual Match

A Most Unusual Match
Sara Mitchell

Indulge your fantasies of delicious Regency Rakes, fierce Viking warriors and rugged Highlanders. Be swept away into a world of intense passion, lavish settings and romance that burns brightly through the centuriesOne of the earliest fiction authors in the inspirational market, Sara Mitchell is the critically acclaimed author of fifteen novels.Her 2001 historical Shenandoah Home earned a Romantic Times Top Pick rating; the sequel, Virginia Autumn, was a 2003 Christy Award finalist and winner of the RWA Georgia's Maggie Award of Excellence in the historical category; and her Love Inspired Historical Legacy of Secrets won the 2008 RT Reviewers' Choice Award in the Love Inspired Historical category.From inspirational romance, to historical fiction, to complex historical suspense, Sara Mitchell's books have touched the lives of readers all over the world. Her hallmark traits include exhaustive research, a command of language and characters with emotional depth. She currently writes for Steeple Hill's Love Inspired Historical line, creating stories that take place in the late 1890s.In all her works, Sara infuses the same passion and faith with which she tries to live life. It remains her hope that ". . . God's grace enables my books to touch hearts and honor Him. Along with," she adds with a smile, "providing a few hours of happily-ever-aftering."When she's not writing and making a mess of her office Sara enjoys rummaging around cluttered antique shops, researching historical photos, shopping for bargains in any kind of store that is NOT crowded and playing her 1870s rosewood Steinway piano. She gave up on sewing, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking and regular exercise. She has learned, however, to embrace gardening on a small scale, unless she encounters grubs or slugs. Earthworms are fine.She and her husband of 39 years live in Virginia. They are the parents of two adult daughters. Sara loves to hear from readers, and you may reach her through Web site.

“I prefer horses to people,” Devlin said. “They might bite or kick if frightened or provoked. But they don’t lie.”

Thea weathered the blow—it was justified. “I didn’t think a harmless fabrication would hurt anyone…” Her voice trailed into silence.

“And when nothing worked, you got desperate.”

“Desperate,” she repeated. “Have you ever been desperate, Mr. Stone? About anything?”

“Yes. But never enough to cheat, or beg or deceive.”

“Then you’ve never been desperate.”

“I don’t know what to think of you, Miss Pickford. Is that your real name, by the way?”

“It’s actually my mother’s maiden name.” He slid the question in so neatly Thea answered before she realized it. “Please don’t ask for my real name. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”

“Ah.” Another one of those flicks of blue light came and went in his eyes. “We’re in accord, then. I don’t want to be lied to.”

SARA MITCHELL

A popular and highly acclaimed author in the Christian market, Sara’s aim is to depict the struggle between the challenges of everyday life and the values to which our faith would have us aspire. The author of contemporary, historical suspense and historical novels, her work has been published by many inspirational book publishers.

Having lived in diverse locations from Georgia to California to Great Britain, her extensive travel experience helps her create authentic settings for her books. A lifelong music lover, Sara has also written several musical dramas and has long been active in the music miniseries of the churches wherever she has lived. The mother of two daughters, Sara now lives in Virginia.

Sara Mitchell

A Most Unusual Match

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”

Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.

—Proverbs 20:22, NIV

He hath…sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty them that are bruised.

—Luke 4:18, KJV

To Melissa Endlich, my dear editor, for her consummate editorial skill, and her faith in me.

Thanks for everything.

Acknowledgments

Profound thanks to the following, all of whom were gracious with their time and generous with their information. Any historical errors are entirely the author’s doing.

Once again to the staff members in the U.S. Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs, and the staff of the U.S. Secret Service Archives, for their courtesy and invaluable assistance.

Saratoga Springs, New York

Mary Ann Fitzgerald, City Historian, Saratoga Springs

Allan Carter, Historian, Saratoga Racing Museum

…and all the other wonderful individuals up in Saratoga Springs I spoke to a time or two, or exchanged emails with.

Jekyl Island

Gretchen Greminger, Curator, Jekyl Island—spelled “Jekyll” from the 20th century onward! (so nobody will be confused….)

Clint and the rest of the staff at the Jekyll Island Museum.

Gretchen, many, many thanks for helping me perfect the plot and make it work! You’re a perfect example of a peach of a Georgia gal!

God’s blessings to one and all.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten