Too Precious to Lose — Barbara Cartland

Exquisitely lovely Norina Wyn had fled her home, for her jealous stepmother, greedy for the young heiress's fortune, had tried to poison her. Now Norina, posing as a widow, was Secretary to a French Marquis de Carlamont, who was travelling to Paris to seek solitude. Entangling herself in a second masquerade, Norina agreed to accompany him. But she could not disguise her feelings... she was falling in love with "The Wicked Marquis"! In the South of France, Norina's stepmother struck once more... in an attempt so ruthless it threatened to keep Norina from her Marquis... forever!