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      “I prefer horses to people,” Devlin said. “They might bite or kick if frightened or provoked. But they don’t lie.”

      Thea weathered the blow—it was justified. “I didn’t think a harmless fabrication would hurt anyone…” Her voice trailed into silence.

      “And when nothing worked, you got desperate.”

      “Desperate,” she repeated. “Have you ever been desperate, Mr. Stone? About anything?”

      “Yes. But never enough to cheat, or beg or deceive.”

      “Then you’ve never been desperate.”

      “I don’t know what to think of you, Miss Pickford. Is that your real name, by the way?”

      “It’s actually my mother’s maiden name.” He slid the question in so neatly Thea answered before she realized it. “Please don’t ask for my real name. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”

      “Ah.” Another one of those flicks of blue light came and went in his eyes. “We’re in accord, then. I don’t want to be lied to.”

      SARA MITCHELL

      A popular and highly acclaimed author in the Christian market, Sara’s aim is to depict the struggle between the challenges of everyday life and the values to which our faith would have us aspire. The author of contemporary, historical suspense and historical novels, her work has been published by many inspirational book publishers.

      Having lived in diverse locations from Georgia to California to Great Britain, her extensive travel experience helps her create authentic settings for her books. A lifelong music lover, Sara has also written several musical dramas and has long been active in the music miniseries of the churches wherever she has lived. The mother of two daughters, Sara now lives in Virginia.

      Sara Mitchell

      A Most Unusual Match

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”

      Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.

      —Proverbs 20:22, NIV

      He hath…sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

      to preach deliverance to the captives,

      and recovering of sight to the blind,

      to set at liberty them that are bruised.

      —Luke 4:18, KJV

      To Melissa Endlich, my dear editor, for her consummate editorial skill, and her faith in me.

       Thanks for everything.

      Acknowledgments

      Profound thanks to the following, all of whom were gracious with their time and generous with their information. Any historical errors are entirely the author’s doing.

      Once again to the staff members in the U.S. Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs, and the staff of the U.S. Secret Service Archives, for their courtesy and invaluable assistance.

      Saratoga Springs, New York

      Mary Ann Fitzgerald, City Historian, Saratoga Springs

      Allan Carter, Historian, Saratoga Racing Museum

      …and all the other wonderful individuals up in Saratoga Springs I spoke to a time or two, or exchanged emails with.

      Jekyl Island

      Gretchen Greminger, Curator, Jekyl Island—spelled “Jekyll” from the 20th century onward! (so nobody will be confused….)

      Clint and the rest of the staff at the Jekyll Island Museum.

      Gretchen, many, many thanks for helping me perfect the plot and make it work! You’re a perfect example of a peach of a Georgia gal!

      God’s blessings to one and all.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-One

      Chapter Twenty-Two

      Chapter Twenty-Three

      Chapter Twenty-Four

      Chapter Twenty-Five

      Chapter Twenty-Six

      Chapter Twenty-Seven

      Chapter Twenty-Eight

      Chapter Twenty-Nine

      Chapter Thirty

      Chapter Thirty-One

      Chapter Thirty-Two

      Chapter Thirty-Three

      Chapter Thirty-Four

      Chapter Thirty-Five

      Chapter Thirty-Six

      Chapter Thirty-Seven

      Chapter Thirty-Eight

      Chapter Thirty-Nine

      Chapter Forty

      Letter to Reader

      Questions for Discussion

      Chapter One

      Saratoga Springs, New York

       June, 1897

      Theodora Langston watched Edgar Fane stroll across the lobby of the Grand Union Hotel. A half smile lurked at the corners of his mouth, while a swelling crowd—mostly ladies—clustered about him. His gray fedora tipped forward jauntily and one pale hand lightly swung a brass-handled walking stick, tapping the marble foyer with each step. Mr. Fane epitomized a gentleman out to enjoy his season at Saratoga Springs. He had the right, seeing he was a son of one of the richest

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