"A classic that stands the test of time"
In 1858, Graham Wessit has so many woes he does not know
where to start to fix them. Besides being the laughing
stock of England due to a hyperbolic serialization of his
misdeeds, the wealthy Graham faces a false paternity suit
and the plans of his current mistress to divorce her
husband and marry him. Since he inherited his title at
six, scandal is his middle name. Widow Submit Channing-Downes wears black in mourning for
her late husband Henry. She adored her much older spouse
though she likes the freedom that widowhood provides for
her. Graham blames much of his present troubles on Henry,
his former guardian. Listening to Henry's son prattle,
Graham transfers his negative feelings to the widow until
she arrives delivering a package from the deceased. Though
Submit and Graham differ about Henry, they agree on a deep
attraction between them. Unless they find some kind of
compromise, the ghost of Henry will haunt any relationship
between them. BLACK SILK, a reprint of a 1991 Victorian romance (written
under the name of Judith Cuevas), retains its freshness due
to the strong characterizations. Readers fully grasp the
motives of Submit and Graham and to a lesser degree that of
Henry. Graham is the unique recipient of scorn from his
peers while Submit is a bit more difficult to comprehend as
she appears almost like two different people. Still Judith
Ivory strikes the right chords with this powerful character
study that slowly simmers the romance so that the audience
obtains a realistic entertaining mid nineteenth century
tale. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 21, 2002
SummaryA Dutiful HeartAs befitting her name, lovely Submit
Channing-Downes was the proper, obedient wife of an aging
marquess -- until her husband's death left her penniless
and alone...with one last marital obligation to fulfill.
Entrusted with delivering a small black box to its rightful
owner, she calls upon Graham Wessit, the notorious Earl of
Netham, life has been forever marred by rumor and scandal.
But Graham wants nothing to do with a bequest from the man
he holds responsible for his ruin -- or with thebewitching
emissary who brings it. In the face of breathtaking erotic
mystery -- in the throes of an inflamed passion unbeckoned
but impossible to deny -- a rogue's hardened heart may be
undone by love.. and a staidbeauty in straits may learn the
exquisite, sensuous freedom of surrender.
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