An Illusion of Love

Victorian Edinburgh belongs to staid professors, not the flamboyant daughter of a Hindu princess.

Lacking any of her Malcolm family's psychic abilities, Azmin Dougall flees her ancestral home of India for Edinburgh, fearing she'll be a pigeon in a family of peacocks. But she's willing to risk everything to aid a friend's escape from an abusive husband-and to test her newly discovered, weirdly-perceptive photography skills.

Dr. Zane Dare is done with risk. Because his work introduced disease into his family home, his sister is dead, and his niece, Louisa, is an invalid left in his care. As a bachelor, and one who spends all his waking hours researching a cure, he has no means of entertaining an adolescent girl. In desperation, he asks the School of Malcolms to provide a governess.

Zane is appalled when they send Azmin. A decade ago they shared an enchanted summer that ended in crushed dreams. Worse yet, introducing a defiant Hindu princess into his household will jeopardize Zane's precarious research position. And Azmin isn't about to trust a man who scoffs at her incipient psychic abilities-until his frail niece wins her love.

But after Azmin's photograph reveals the man courting Louisa may be dangerous, Zane and Azmin must set aside their differences to protect the girl who could teach their hearts to love again . . .