The Passion and the Flower / Love, Lords, and Lady-Birds

THE PASSION AND THE FLOWER: In 1867 Paris, passionate Russian Prince Ivan Volkonski is captivated by a mysterious modern dancer. Lokita performs her own unique dances that directly convey emotions to audiences, but she speaks to no one and promptly departs the theatre cloaked in secrecy. The persistent Prince orchestrates a ruse just to meet her, and perceiving her interest in Russian culture, promises to give a "Russian" party for her the next day.

Lokita grew up in social isolation, cared for by servants. Her loving English father visited rarely, her Russian mother never - her very existence had to be kept secret, and no one would tell her why! Financial difficulties after her father's death forced her loving servants to reluctantly allow her to go onstage, but when Prince Ivan manages to meet her, they must whisk her away!

LOVES, LORDS AND LADY-BIRDS: Saucy, headstrong Petrina had just escaped from her country school when she ran into her Guardian, Earl of Staverton. To her surprise he was not the old stuffed shirt she'd expected, but a young, strikingly handsome aristocrat--and without a doubt the coldest, most arrogant man she'd ever met.

No matter how desperately hard Petrina tried, she could not befriend the Earl. Her very presence seemed to annoy him. Preoccupied with his idle love affairs, he sought to arrange for her -- a decent marriage and be quickly done with her . . .

But his willful ward had other plans. Ignited by the Earl's stony indifference, she took it as a challenge to make him love her . . . not as a young innocent but as a full-fledged, passionate woman.