Miss Mary Perkins is governess to the strong-willed Stringham sisters while waiting for her beloved Mr. Trevor Wallace, a curate, to receive a living so that they can afford to marry. When he loses the promised position, her young charges decide to give their governess a husband for Christmas. The Stringham sisters write a fake letter from the duke inviting Trevor to stay at the castle, lock the pair in the dungeon, accidentally poison a chaplain, and cause a great deal of mayhem with mistletoe. Despite the girls' well-meaning mistakes, will Mary and Trevor finally have the wedding of their dreams?"Only the Stringham girls would try to matchmake in a dungeon," Mary said with a little snicker that was positively adorable. "And if you ignore the torture artifacts, it is a rather romantic location with firelight."PRAISE FOR SAMANTHA HASTINGSThe Marquess and the Runaway Lady and "Combining the Regency season with the runaway woman trope makes for a delightful story. and "-Library JournalSecret of the Sonnets and "This will keep readers turning pages. and "-Publishers Weekly and "I enjoyed this book immensely. and "-Readers' Favorite five-star reviewA Novel Disguise under pen name Samantha Larsen and "Wildly enjoyable and "-Publisher's Weekly"Class differences, prejudice, and the lack of women's rights drive this enjoyable mystery."-Kirkus Reviews"With mistaken identities, romantic rendezvous, and twists that keep the reader guessing, Samantha Larsen's debut is sure to entice mystery and romance readers alike." - Manda Collins, author of A Spinster's Guide to Danger and DukesThe Last WordA Junior Library Guild Selection"Hastings' debut is a charming period piece with all the romance and scornful nods to high society any Austen fan will love. Lucinda moves beyond the cliche of being a young woman who chafes at the restrictions of a sexist world, as she's elevated by her true passions-numbers and accounting. The Last Word is the perfect read for anyone who wants to spend a few hours in Victorian England in the company of a girl who understands that the entire country is being led by a Queen." -Booklist"Refreshing ... Lucinda, a young Victorian woman with a modern sensibility well ahead of her time, has plenty of pluck and determination. Hastings' breezy prose and crafty plotting will leave readers racing to uncover her own last installment." -BookPage