John Scott, Lord Eldon (1751-1838) was an important English lawyer and a dominant figure in Georgian public life, and ranks among the most important Lord Chancellors in the long history of that office. This biography, the first in approximately 150 years, traces Eldon's public career, from MP to Lord Chancellor. That career was significant for its duration and complexity. Eldon held public office for almost 49 years, and his 25 year tenure as Lord Chancellor is unique. This enabled him to exercise influence in almost every government between 1788-1827.

In this rousing sequel to The Blackstone Key, Rose Melikan's heroine returns to the world of espionage for an intelligent, thrilling adventure in Georgian England.

When the story begins Mary is a wealthy heiress. Young ladies in her situation ought to marry well--as her friend Susannah Armitage has. But is Susannah's marriage to Colonel Crosby-Nash all that it seems? Mary thinks not, and when her suspicions lead to a meeting with the elusive spymaster, Cuthbert Shy, he reveals the terrible truth--the colonel is a traitor. At Shy's request, Mary agrees to accompany the Crosby-Nashes to...

It is the autumn of 1797. The war between the British and the French is being fought not just openly but also in secret by a network of spies. Reluctant heiress Mary Finch is no stranger to adventure, but even she hesitates before accepting this assignment: to travel secretly to Paris and disrupt vital Franco-American negotiations. She must rely wholly upon a stranger while deceiving her "dearest friend," Captain Robert Holland. Once in France, Mary's safety rests on a knife-edge, and her colleague has secrets of his own. Undaunted, she sets about her task with wit, stealth, and...