"Highly enjoyable and intriguing story."

Derbyshire, 1817: Viscount Amesbury, Major Theo Ruskin, is going undercover for his father's "Fearless Five" to find out who killed Theo's brother. Disguised as a laborer, Theo is going to one of his father's holdings to get work in one of their mills.

Before leaving London, Theo meets Miss Hannah Whitmore at one of the balls. He's quite taken with Hannah, but must wait until his mission is over to pursue her. Hannah is one of the daughters of the minister from Derbyshire, and she teaches school to the children. She's been trying to get the owners of the mills to allow the young children to attend school.

Theo gets work at one of the mills and sees the mistreatment of the workers. He soon suspects what it was his brother found out that had him murdered. When Theo is unmasked by one of his fellow soldiers, he starts taking an interest in his family's mill. Hannah and Theo have many meetings on the improvement of the community.

I enjoyed the mystery and the determination of the characters to assist their fellow man. Hannah gets caught- up in the intrigue of the subterfuge going on at the mills. Theo is drawn to Hannah and wants to keep her safe from her own sense of duty.

Reviewed by Delia Larkins
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted June 20, 2003