The Courteous Cad By Catherine Palmer

Though Miss Prudence Watson has a full dance card at every ball, she insists she will devote her life to a higher calling: helping the downtrodden, following whatever mission God may put in her path. Certainly her declaration has nothing to do with her shattered heart, broken by an American whom she could never wed.

Following the scandal, Prudence and her sister embark on a tour of the north country, hoping Yorkshire's wild beauty will be a balm to their spirits. the last thing Prudence expects to find there is a cause to crusade. But an unexpected encounter alerts her to inhumane working conditions at the local mill, owned by a Royal Navy officer just returned from sea. Following in William Sherbourne's wake is his reputation as a cad - and a secret so shocking he'll do anything to protect it. Worse yet, he's handsome and charming and not at all the villain Prudence expected.

As always, society tattler Miss Pickworth has a thing or two to say about the young crusader and the raked at whom her protests are aimed. But it seems that even Miss Pickworth has secrets to be revealed as Prudence and William learn the truth about each other—and about their own deceptive hearts.

paperback 375 pages 14x21x2.5cm