The only surviving son of a poor American farmer, Leander Mayfield is shocked to learn that he is in fact the new Earl of Dearborne. Barely recovered from one of the many illnesses that have plagued him all his life, he sets sail for England and a new life.<br><br>Tired and bored with all the wealth and finery that constantly surrounds him, Julien Sutcliffe, the Earl of Blackstone, is constantly on the lookout for something to lift his ennui. Then he meets the young American Earl, whose naiveté he finds refreshing and new.<br><br>Drawn to each other, it actually begins to seem as though they might be able to enjoy a happy life in each other’s company, but something -- or someone -- is determined to separate them permanently.

The Desire for Dearborne

Julien allowed the horse to pick his way carefully through the trees, keeping his eyes on the coach. When the vehicle halted, Julien dismounted and moved closer on foot, slipping one hand into the pocket of his greatcoat to grip his pistol. For a moment, he considered rushing forward and confronting the men, but the driver would make the odds three-to-one. Hired coachmen tended to overlook a great deal that was going on around them, especially if the price was right, but an armed man bursting from a copse of trees would provoke a reaction from even the drunkest reprobate. Instead, he waited and watched as the pair disembarked. When they disappeared down a slight slope, Julien hurried toward the coach, being careful to keep himself hidden behind the vehicle.


Doubtful he could sneak past the coachman unobserved, Julien reached into his pocket and found a five-pound note. “You didn’t see me,” he hissed, thrusting the bill up at the coachman.


Chapter 88