Book excerpt: A lady finds new love by the seaside in this romance by “the best of the Regency writers” (Kirkus Reviews). Lady Beatrice Marsham has finally been widowed from her husband—and now her family is trying to saddle her with another, equally awful one. She has no choice but to flee by stagecoach to the Brighton seaside—where she meets Miss Hannah Pym, who is determined to find her a proper match. The traveling matchmaker has a candidate in mind: Lord Alistair Munro. But he has heard the gossip about Lady Beatrice. According to the ton, she is nothing but a heartless flirt. Miss Pym and the Brighton air are working their charms on the lady, however—and she will soon be working her charms on him . . . Originally written under the name Marion Chesney, this is a witty adventure of a romance by M. C. Beaton, the New York Times–bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.