Treason and murder
Tess is a gal no one notices for she is considered nothing/nobody in the home she lives. She is ignored and thus able to blend into the background. Unbeknownst to her this is all hers and she is soon due to die for this. Revan is there as a spy for the king due to rumors. In the guise of courting Tess's cousin Brenda, he is unsuccessful in finding out all the truths he needs before Brenda catches onto him and gets him tossed into the dungeon headed for the gallows with a false murder as reason. Down in the dungeons, Tess meets Revan and decides to free him. In the middle, the uncle catches them and she must flee as kidnap victim to save Revan (and herself although she does not know this). During their travels to court to tell the king about the plots and clear Revan's name, Revan finds out Tess knows a wealth of information that can cause her uncle to stand court for treason. Also, that Tess has money that the uncle wishes her dead for. Tess comes to understand that several attempts have been made on her life that appeared accidents. Now, not only is the uncle after them, but also the notorious Douglas clan (who is planning the kings assassination with her uncle) and also the King's men are after Revan for her kidnap and the murder charge. They are running and many dangers ensue. Finally, they reach safety in her family holds and are forced in a betrothel. She fears the wedding as much as the dangers that lurked as Revan is a Knight but landless. His pride forstalls his desires to be wed to an heiress and he knows nothing of her true wealth at all. In this book, it is unusual, there is none of the girl running away to save a man's pride. She takes the bull by the horns and sets him free and watches while he leaves after he finds out the whole of her wealth when she confesses it right before she lets him go. He leaves (but comes back without her knowledge). You will have to read the rest of the story to find out how it is reconciled for the couple. Good book.
