The Reluctant Hero

by Mary Kingsley

HE CAME TO HER RESCUE... Wounded in body and soul while serving his country in the Peninsula, all Charles Kirk now wants is peace. He hopes to settle back into civilian life by managing a property owned by his brother. But his plans hit a snag when, en route to the estate, he rescues a charming young woman being pursued by a less-than-enchanting pair of ruffians. His gentlemanly duty is to escort Lady Serena Fairchild safely home--yet he soon realizes that letting her go will be more difficult than he ever imagined... ...AND CAPTURED HER HEART Serena has no idea that her abduction was part of a duplicitous plan concocted by a jilted suitor. As far as she's concerned, there's no such thing as a happy union--she'd sooner remain a spinster all her days! But her resolve to avoid engagement is sorely tested by her intrepid rescuer. The more time she spends with gentle, chivalrous Charles Kirk, the more she questions her own convictions about marriage...and love.