The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Book 5 of  Hagenheim

Summary: 

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha—one of the few who speaks his language—understands the wild story.

Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin’s message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself “Lord Colin” is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy—not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she’s sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook’s wicked plot.

Opening Lines: 

Colin touched John's forehead with the back of his hand. "Burning hot."

John groaned and looked at him with unfocused, heavy-lidded eyes. 

The sun was low in the sky and the air was getting colder. Colin swept off his red cape and placed it around John's shoulders while they waited for the horses to finishe drinking.

If only he could find someone who knew about healing herbs, a healer who could help bring down John's fever.