The Paid Companion

Synopsis - The Earl of St. Merryn needs a woman. His intentions are purely practical - he simply wants someone sensible and suitably lovely to pose as his betrothed for a few weeks among polite society. He has his own agenda to pursue, and a false fiancee will keep the husband-hunters at bay while he goes about his business. The simplest solution is to hire a paid companion. Finding the right candidate proves more of a challenge than he expected. But when he encounters Miss Elenora Lodge, her feisty manner and golden eyes sway him to make a generous offer.

Elenora's sorry financial circumstances - and dreams of a life of independence - leave her little choice but to accept. But St. Merryn appears to be hiding a secret or two, and things seem oddly amiss in his gloomy London home. Elenora soon discovers that this lark will be a far more dangerous adventure than she'd been led to believe.

Tropes & themes

Regency

More by Jayne Ann Krentz

• Second Sight (2006)
• The River Knows (2007)
• Wicked Widow (2000)
• The Third Circle:(Arcane Society, #4) (2008)
• Mischief (1996)
• The Perfect Poison (2009)

Readers who liked this also enjoy

• Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas
• Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh
• Taken by the Laird by Margo Maguire
• The Impostor (The Liars Club, Book 2) (Liars Club) by Celeste Bradley
• More Than a Scandal by Sari Robins
• The Bridgertons by Julia Quinn

Where to read The Paid Companion

The Paid Companion is widely available in ebook and print — check your library, Kindle Unlimited, or your preferred retailer. Prefer to start a whole collection at once? The Margot St. James bundle gives you ten full-length Regency romances for less than the price of one paperback.