Duchess / Jude Deveraux 316 p. December Challenge: 11 Pipers Piping

In 1883, American heiress, Claire Willoughby, is well on her way to being the Duchess when she visits Harry, the 11th Duke of MacArran, at home in Scotland.  Marriage is very necessary so as to gain control of her considerable inheritance, so very necessary because of her spendthrift parents.  While there she is drawn to the mysterious Trevelyan.  Trevelyan keeps a secret that he is the author of the travel books that Claire enjoys and that he is Harry's adventuring brother. Claire's young sister, Sarah Ann, has free run of the house and noses out its many secrets in the historical romance.