The Scarlet Spy

They were once orphans from London's roughest slums. Now they are stuidents of Mrs. Merlin's Academy for Select Young Ladies, learning the techniques of spying and seduction. Bold, beautiful, and oh-so-dangerous, they are England's ultimate secret weapons...The most ladylike of "Merlin's Maidens," Sofia possesses a natural grace and grandeur to go along with her deadly arsenal of martial skills--which makes her the perfect choice for a dangerous assignment to investigate rumors of government corruption. She must spin through the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair and the sinister back alleys of the city in search of the truth. One misstep on her part could prove fatal as she works to unravel the tangled web of deceit...but keeping the sinfully sexy Deverill Osborne at arm's length is a real test of her mettle. Handsome, witty and charming, Osborne is the darling of the ton. So when he is asked by the Marquess of Lynsley to introduce a lovely young Italian contessa into Society, he is only too happy to oblige...however he soon has suspicions about the contessa. W hen he catches her stealing valuables from a gentleman's study, should he believe the worst? Or should he trust the tantalizing murmur of her words...and the sultry, sensuous whispers of her body. To unmask the conspirators, Sofia and Osborne will overcome hidden dangers, including their own growing passion...which may be the most dangerous force of all. (2008)From BooklistOf all the young women at Mrs. Merlin’s Academy for Select Young Ladies, no one surpasses Sofia when it comes to successfully playing the part of a lady, and a lady is exactly what this assignment requires. Disguised as the widowed Contessa Sofia Constanza Bingham della Silveri, Sofia must infiltrate London society and find out if there is any connection between the recent opium-related death of a young nobleman and a mysterious secret society known as the “Scarlet Knights.” Knowing nothing about her real reasons for being in London, Lord Deverill Osborne agrees to help Sofia navigate the socially tricky waters of the ton. The closer Sofia gets to untangling a web of lies and deception, though, the more she finds herself becoming distracted by the dangerously sexy Lord Deverill. Deftly blending an expertly realized historical setting and a deliciously subtle sense of wit, Pickens gives the popular espionage-tinged Regency plot a refreshing new twist as she brings her Spy trilogy (Seduced by a Spy, 2008) to a spellbinding conclusion. --John Charles ReviewOn SEDUCED BY A SPY: "...a rollicking action adventure, full of historical intrigue, dry wit, and a smoldering romance..." (Freshfiction.com )"There can be no doubt that Andrea Pickens has surpassed herself in THE SCARLET SPY. She is now well on her way to becoming the 21st century's Georgette Heyer." (Armchairinterviews.com )