The Purchased Bride

Alix had been designated by her exquisite mother and profligate father as the savior of her family. She was going to be beautiful. She was learned, and yes, she had courage. Her parents surveyed the ton and chose a handful of rich, very rich, men to whom Alix would be sold to. Her mother had sympathy, her father none. Unfortunately, her mother died before the marriage could be arranged. The earl, Alixs father, had no scruples. He selected the worst of the rich men, and when Alex refused, he beat her, locked her in her room, and then cast her off. Six years later, Lord Jonathan Creighton, a nabob out of India, came on the scene. He needed a wife, and there was a time constraint. He would take what he could get. The marriage took place, but there was no affection, no alliance. The two crossed swords immediately, but they had to work together. The story became muddled when Alix discovered she was sharing the house with a half-caste Indian child. Suddenly, Alix was involved in plots, kidnapping, and murder. Almost dying, she and Jonathan realized that they loved each other as well as the child.