Cirrus@Austlit

'As Europe draws toward war, an extraordinary woman steps into the arena.

'In Edwardian England, Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, lately of the Cape Colony, was born the daughter of an Earl, but is now the widow of a commoner. She straddles two worlds, speaks fluent German, and can ride, hunt and shoot. Her talents draws the eye of spymaster William Melville, who recruits her to help him fight a shadow game with German agents both at home and aboard.

'Her first assignment is to attend a weekend house party at Balmoral Castle. One of the guests intends to assassinate King Edward and she must find out who before they make their move…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Adele learns just how ruthless German agents can be.

'In Edwardian England, Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, continues her work for William Melville, spymaster, even though it has left her with no time to live the life she would prefer, which includes spending at least a little time with Daniel Bannister.

'When she refuses to travel to Germany to watch over King Edward while he visits the German Emperor to discuss disarmament of their increasingly more competitive navies, Melville gives Adele an alternative, superficial task of watching over a young, sweet debutante, Lady Winnifred.

'Adele perseveres with the useless, quite horrid task of trailing an innocent girl through the Season. It puts her in the path of German agents, who demonstrate just how dark and dangerous her new work really is…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lady Adelaide is on her own…

'In Edwardian Britain, Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, continues her work for William Melville, spymaster. Adele accompanies King Edward and Queen Alexandra to Dublin where the King will attend the Irish International Exhibition. Events go awry even before they depart England, for the Irish Crown Jewels are stolen and King Edward takes the theft as a personal insult to the Crown.

'Then the renowned Irish MP, Eilish Slane, who is a personal friend of the King’s, is found murdered in a Dublin hotel. Adel attempts to investigate while navigating the shoals of the King’s temper, the actions of Irish Nationalists, the provocations of the British and Irish press, and the prejudices of men everywhere. And she must work alone, for Melville and his cohorts remain in England…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lady Adelaide leads a double life that sits ill with her…

'In Edwardian Britain, Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, finds her work for William Melville, spymaster, clashes with the life her society friends believe her to be leading. Her guilt rises when her very dear friend, Isa Hass, arrives from Cape Town and asks questions Adele cannot answer.

'When a homeless urchin, Charlie Rowbottom, hands a note written in German code over to Adele, she struggles to keep her true nature separated from her position in society while she searches for the writer of the note.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lady Adelaide has had enough…

'Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, cannot sleep. After weeks of brooding about the severe drawbacks of her work for William Melville, spymaster, she travels through London at midnight to find Melville and tell him she will no longer work for him.

'Instead, Adele finds herself in the company of Torin Slane, the Irish professor and Fenian, and Daniel Bannister, Baron Leighton, as they monitor the house of a possible German agent.

'The company and conversation, and the events they witness in the house they are watching, prove illuminating for Adele and for Melville’s continuing search for a master German spy.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lady Adelaide closes in on the German spymaster called the Doctor…

'Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, leads an operation to recruit a potential double agent with a connection to the Doctor, with Torin Slane, the Irish professor and Fenian, and Daniel Bannister, Baron Leighton, to assist her. All three work under the cover of the traditional Salinghall Christmas Eve Ball, which Adele’s family has attended every year for decades.

'But returning home for Christmas, after eloping with a commoner many years ago, comes with complications, including her judgemental and difficult father and her trouble-prone sisters.

'Only, the real trouble comes from a completely unexpected direction, putting Adele on a collision course with the Doctor himself…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Trouble reaches out to Lady Adelaide from across the oceans.

'Lady Adelaide Azalea Margaret de Morville, Mrs. Hugh Becket, English peer and British intelligence agent, receives an unexpected letter from her dear friend Isa Hass in the Cape Colony, which sends her dashing to Cape Town to confirm her suspicions about Isa and the death of Adele’s husband, three years ago.

'Spy master William Melville insists that Daniel Bannister, Lord Leighton, accompany her. Adele complies, even though she resents Leighton’s company, for their nascent relationship ran aground some weeks before.

'Adele’s return to Cape Town elicits memories both bitter and sweet, and unlocks the secrets surrounding her friend Isa, provoking a violent and deadly response from the shadowy figures who resent that exposure…'

Source: Publisher's blurb.