"Intriguing and emotional"

Nineteen-year-old Vermillion "Lee" Durant is about to make her London debut as a leading demimonde. Her Aunt Gabriella, still a beauty at 46, wants her niece to join her profession. Gabriella rescued Lee from an orphanage at the age of four and has raised her to continue the family business. Gabriella has never understood the advantage of marriage, and has always told Lee so.

Capt. Caleb Tanner is working undercover at the Durant's stable. There's a leak of information going to France, and it seems to be coming from the Durant home. Caleb's job is to keep Lee and her aunt under surveillance. But the more Caleb sees of Lee, the more he can't stand to see any other man near her.

With Lee being undecided about whether to follow her aunt's advice and find a protector or look for a suitable husband, Caleb has difficulty controlling his emotions around her. Add to this the intrigue of who's passing information to the French, and you have a delightful story. I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Delia Larkins
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted March 15, 2003