City of Schemes (A Counterfeit Lady Novel)

City of Schemes (A Counterfeit Lady Novel)

Elizabeth Miles is preparing for her wedding to Gideon Bates, when a menacing shadow from her past threatens to destroy the life she has built for herself in this all-new Counterfeit Lady Novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson. The Great War is over, and Elizabeth and Gideon are busily planning their wedding and welcoming home old friends now discharged from the army. One of them, Captain Logan Carstens, the son and heir of a wealthy family, seems less than happy to be home and with good reason. While Logan was in France, he fell in love with a beautiful French woman named Noelle. He desperately wanted to propose, but he was already engaged and felt bound to honor his commitment. When Logan receives a letter supposedly from Noelle begging for money to help her flee the terrible conditions in France and come to America, Elizabeth is suspicious. There is no way to verify the letter is actually from Noelle, and she fears that a con man or woman might be trying to take advantage of Logan in his vulnerable state.  But that is not all Elizabeth has to worry about. Vicious thug Oscar Thornton has gotten wind of her wedding announcement and realizes the woman who conned him is still alive and well. Gideon and Elizabeth have to figure out a way to help their friend while making sure their worst enemy does not destroy their future. . . . Praise for City of Schemes “This has humor and high stakes.  If you like the idea of a 1918 version of Ocean's Eleven, then this is the book for you.  Rating:   Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list”—Mysteries and My Musings “A charming period piece, exciting and amusing in equal quantities.”-- Kirkus  “ City of Schemes  is a fantastic book.  It will pull you in from page one, and you’ll be reluctant to set it down when you read the end.  I’m already looking forward to finding out what the future holds for Elizabeth and Gideon.”--Carstairs Considers “It is a pleasure spending time with Elizabeth and Gideon, and I hope there are many more adventures ahead.   City of Schemes  can be read as a standalone but is probably best enjoyed as part of the series.  Recommended.”—Open Book Society “There are so many twists, turns, and double-crosses and it was all wonderful. I couldn't put the book down.” Saph’s Cozy Corner Victoria Thompson is the Edgar® and Agatha award-nominated author of the Gaslight Mysteries including Murder on Pleasant Avenue , and the Counterfeit Lady Mysteries including City of Scoundrels . CHAPTER one   Planning a wedding was very much like planning a con, Elizabeth had noticed. With a wedding, the bride was the mark, and everyone was trying to convince her to give them her money for some ridiculous thing that sounded like the opportunity of a lifetime but which would probably turn out to be not nearly so wonderful. Even her future mother-in-law had noticed, and she'd never even heard of running a con until she met Elizabeth.   "Are you sure you want to have such a lavish meal for the wedding breakfast, my dear?" Mrs. Bates asked with a worried frown as she peered at the menu.   They were sitting in Mrs. Bates's parlor, having pulled up an extra chair to her writing desk so Elizabeth could show her all the lists she had brought along. As the mother of the groom, Mrs. Bates didn't have many responsibilities for the wedding, but she was anxious to help in any way she could. Since Elizabeth had lost her mother many years ago, her aunt Cybil was trying to fill in with the mother-of-the-bride duties, but neither Cybil nor Elizabeth had ever even attended a society wedding. The Bates family, on the other hand, was one of the oldest society families in New York. Elizabeth didn't want to disgrace them.   "I'm not too worried about the wedding breakfast," Elizabeth said. And the wedding breakfast wasn't a breakfast at all, but rather a dinner. "The Old Man is paying for it."   Mrs. Bates smiled. She found Elizabeth's father charming in spite of his questionable occupation as a con man. "As he should, but still . . ."   "He chose the menu. He said he wants to send me off in style, but if you think it's too much . . ."   "Oh, no. I was just concerned about the cost."   Society family or not, the Bateses weren't millionaires, and her beloved Gideon had to work for a living.   Elizabeth laid the menu aside and cleared her throat in preparation for discussing a somewhat sensitive matter. "I was also wondering about the announcement, the one for the newspapers. I know Gideon and I should announce our engagement, but . . ."   Mrs. Bates frowned at Elizabeth's hesitation. "That is typically what young ladies do, but if you'd rather not for some reason, then I'm sure-"   "It's not that I'd rather not," Elizabeth hastily explained. "I want everyone to know Gideon and I are getting married. Everyone, that is, except Oscar Thornton."   "Oh my, of course." Mrs. Bates instantly understood. Thornton had once wanted Elizab