ABANDONED. regency period - poor relation saved by nobleman returning from war

[Am]

The story starts on a stormy night at the outside of a graveyard where a girl weeps over her fathers grave. He committed suicide due to a false accusation (of being a french spy?). A mysterious stranger is there too, secretly watching. He startles her first but finishes consoling her. They separate and the girl is obliged to live at the home of relatives (uncle, aunt?) and like cinderella suffers badly from the loveless treatment of her relations because she is like the lowest of servants. Years later, the mysterious stranger is back, coming to the family, asking for her. They pretend the girl died years ago but he finds out and takes her away...
This is the beginning of the book I lost and I would very much finish reading it. It might be an "older" regency romance, maybe part of a series. I would appreciate your help!!!

[Am]

I'm still looking for this one: regency historical romance about girl (poor relation) rescued by nobleman she met briefly after the suicide of her father years ago. Your help would be nice!!!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Well, I'm reasonably sure its not this one Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer since there is no broken down weeping on her father's grave, but it DOES have a nobleman who rescues a young girl from her family--they DO treat her like a servant and have planned on sending her off to be either a companion to an elderly (and wealthy) family member or to act as a governess--sorry, don't remember which it is, its been a year or 20 since I read it. I do remember the basics of the story, and while she does end up finding a "good" husband, it isn't the nobleman who rescues her.

Then there is Friday's Child and The Corinthian (altho this one I'm not positive of)Sprig Muslin this one I'm almost positive is NOT it, but still, its a good story, The FoundlingCOUSIN KATE Ok, that last one is only kinda/sorta the right thing. In that case its her Aunt who comes and saves her, but for dasterdly reasons.

As you can tell from the number of books with that setting, if you could come up with any more ideas--maybe when you read it, if you remember anything about the cover, etc--would be a great help.

(and yeah, I know of probably another 4 dozen books that it MIGHT be, but with that little bit of description, well, it could be ANY of them. Its a very comman concept.)

[Am]

Hi Ann, thanks but you are right, it's none of them. I read all of Heyers a while ago but it put in mind to reread some of those...!
What more do I remember of the story? The father, being a scholor, commited suicide because he was accused of spying for the French but I think it was a relation living with him and his daughter who did the spying. If I'm not mistaken, the nobleman consoling the daughter weeping on her fathers grave (he is not buried inside the graveyard because of his suicice) is linked to all of it. Now I think of it, it might be the girl is also planting bulbs (bluebells?) on the grave to mark it. The hero helps her in her grief but they separate. Years later he is back and is looking for her but her relations (aunt and uncle? avec daughters) do not only treat her like the lowest of servants but they even pretend she died. The hero finds out however and takes her away.
That is really ALL I remember of it and that it might part of a series linked to spying. If you could help?

[Kit★]

Maybe something by Kat Martin or Stephanie Laurens? They've written books about spies, good and bad.

[Am]

Thanks Kit, but it's neighter Kat Martin nor Stephanie Laurens (nor Mary Balogh by the way). But I will not give up looking for the book becauese the beginning was really promising... so if there are any other ideas, I would appreciate any help!

[Marusya]

It's called My Lady Mistress by (I don't remember the author)

[Dorothy]

His Lady Mistress Elizabeth Rolls

[Trish]

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Ann, are you still looking for this book? Was it My Lady Mistress? (Or His Lady Mistress....)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Am hasn't been active in over a year. N0t sure that she's ever going to respond.