The Emerald Swan

Random House Publishing Grou, 1998. Good. Dear Reader, My new story begins on a terror-filled night when two babies--identical twi n girls of noble birth--are separated. One grows to womanhood as the frail, manipulative ward of the handsome young earl of Harcourt. The other become s an enchanting, street-smart urchin who earns her way as a traveling playe r on the streets of England and France. The two girls' paths might never again have crossed if Harcourt hadn't run into Miranda in the midst of an exuberant performance. The resemblance to h is ward is unmistakable--uncanny, in fact...and an ambitious plot begins to take shape in Harcourt's mind. His ward, Maude, will commit herself to a convent rather than marry the lov e-struck king of France, who will soon be traveling to London to claim her. What if Miranda were to take Maude's place? Harcourt is confident that wit h the right training, the right clothes, and the right attitude, the lithe, carefree Miranda will captivate society--and the king. So begins Harcourt's breathtaking scheme to turn an ugly duckling into a go rgeous swan. But if he succeeds too well, Miranda may become something irre sistible--even to Harcourt.... It's a delicious dilemma and a dangerous deception...and the twists and tur ns surprised even me. Warmest wishes, Jane Feather.