If you love Lisa Kleypas and Tessa Dare, you will love Cathy Maxwell. Now, her classic romance, filled with love and laughter, has a bold, new look! “Whenever I’m asked which of my characters is my favorite, the answer always is Phadra Abbott. I love her scarves, her toe rings, and her desire to live life to its fullest.”—Cathy Maxwell As stubborn as she is beautiful, Phadra Abbott will not be deterred when she sets her mind on something. The headstrong heiress has decided to track down her spendthrift explorer father—and nothing is going to stand in her way…not even her handsome, but oh, so stuffy guardian Grant Morgan. Though strong and level-headed, Grant has watched his well ordered life go disastrously awry since he first tried to arrange the irrepressible Miss Abbott's future. And now he has no choice but to accompany Phadra on her latest misadventure—for it's not only his sworn duty that compels him, but a raging, newly born desire to hold his maddening, enchanting adversary in his arms ..and love her for all time. A Timeless Classic “Whenever I’m asked which of my characters is my favorite, the answer always is Phadra Abbott. I love her scarves, her toe rings, and her desire to live life to its fullest.” —Cathy Maxwell As stubborn as she is beautiful, Phadra Abbott will not be deterred when she sets her mind on something. The headstrong heiress has decided to track down her spendthrift explorer father—and nothing is going to stand in her way . . . not even her handsome but oh so stuffy guardian, Grant Morgan. Though strong and level-headed, Grant has watched his well-ordered life go disastrously awry since he first tried to arrange the irrepressible Miss Abbott’s future. And now he has no choice but to accompany Phadra on her latest misadventure—for it’s not only his sworn duty that compels him, but a raging, newly born desire to hold his maddening, enchanting adversary in his arms . . . and love her for all time. Cathy Maxwell  spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, “Why do people fall in love?” It remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness. Treasured Vows By Maxwell, Cathy Avon Books ISBN: 0061084158 Chapter One May 1810 Bankers and body snatchers, Phadra Abbott decidedgrimly, they were one and the same. Standing in the office's window alcove, she turnedher head and looked at Sir Cecil Evans, a member ofthe Bank of England's Court of Directors, letting allof her anger flow from her eyes. Sir Cecil reacted as if her glance scalded him. Hisfingers fumbled and dropped the letter opener he'dbeen playing with onto his desk. He'd been nervouslytoying with the dratted thing for the past ten minuteswhile they waited. His bushy brows came together ina frown, and he huddled down deeper over his deskas if he could shut out her presence. "It wasn't all myfault," he muttered. "Your father had a hand in thematter." Phadra snorted but said nothing, not trusting herselfto speak. Ignoring her companion Henny's lookof concern, she gave them all her back and staredwith unseeing eyes out the window. Two hours. That was all the time that had elapsedsince Sir Cecil had delivered the news of her financialruin and her carefully constructed world had comecrashing down around her. She took a deep breath,steadying herself. She wouldn't give up. Not yet. When the banker had finished his confession, he'dadded that he held hopes that there was a way out of"this tangled web your father and I wove for you" -- as if he wouldn't also go to debtor's prison with her. He probably wouldn't. He had money, whereasshe was bankrupt and would be held responsible forher father's debts as well as her own. Dear God, she had no desire to see the inside of aprison. A sharp knock broke the silence of the room."Come in," Sir Cecil said, his voice squeaking on thefirst word. He cleared his throat and repeated hiscommand in a firmer tone. He's more nervous than I am , Phadra thought, andrealized that she'd been holding out some hope, someprayer, that this was all an elaborate hoax and she'dreturn home to find her life intact. I must be strong.I must be brave . She repeated the litany to herself andthen turned to face the one man Sir Cecil felt couldcontrive a way out of these dire circumstances. He'deven gone so far as to describe Grant Morgan as thesharpest mind in England. She wondered what Morgan was doing involvedwith Sir Cecil if he was so intelligent, but wisely heldher tongue. The door opened and a respectful young secretaryannounced, "Mr. Morgan, sir." "Good!" The word exploded out of Sir Cecil as herose and walked around the desk to greet his visitor, who was without question one of the most handsomemen Phadra had ever laid eyes on. "Morgan, thankyou for coming." Grant Morgan had a profile -- and a body -- likethose Michelangelo had loved to sculpt. He met SirCecil halfway into the room and took his hand. "I'msorry I couldn't answer your summons sooner, sir. Ihad to f