Three Heroes by Jo Beverley (2004, Paperback, Reprint)

These guys are terrific. The grew up together in the same area, played together, when young and formed a bond of lasting friendship. However, the war and circumstances changed them all. Van Vandeimen, Hawk Hawkenville, and Con Sommerford are the three Georges. They each got tattoo's to enable themselves to be identified if they were killed in the War. We walk into Van's life just as he is about to commit suicide in the first story and a novella. He doesn't want to contact Hawk or Con because he feels that they have enough problems too. Van's family has been swindled out of their money and the burden of the responsibility of the dependents and the depression is wearing on him. As he is putting the gun to his head in walks.......... The second story is the Dragon's Bride. In his youth Con fell in love with Susan Kerslake. Susan turned Con down because he was not the Earl and he never forgave her or other women. All Susan's life she has realized what a terrible mistake she made but she was so young but she knows now that she will never love anyone the way she loved Con. She has not seen him for 11 years and he inherits the Earldom and is on his way to visit. Susan is mixed up with the smugglers on the island. Con was devastated and lashes out at Susan any time he can but he knows he still has feelings for her but he is betrothed to another.......
In the Devil's Heiress (which is the great ending of An Unwilling Bride) Hawk Hawkenville is investigating Clarrisa Graystone because he believes she is cunning, and devious. He has never met the miss but he also believes she is a murderer. An then Hawk meets Clarrisa at a parade where she is in-charge of three children from the learning academy where she is residing and the pieces to the puzzle just do not fit this anxious, blushing girl but he is going to find out what is going in and why Clarrisa is the Devils Heiress...... All extremely good reads, thought provoking and you can't put them down once begun. This book will stand alone but if you read An Unwilling Bride before its a lot more fun and interesting.