"Witty sequel to DUCHESS IN LOVE"

Lady Henrietta Maclellan secretly dreams of a London season ending in a wondrous love match. However, unlike most debutantes, she realizes the futility of her fantasies due to her inability to have children. Beauty and intelligence mean nothing if you cannot produce an heir. She compensates by becoming an expert on child-rearing and doting on the village children. When she stumbles upon two neglected children, her temper explodes as she confronts their father.

Simon Darby's encounter with the sharp-tongued virago completes his disastrous journey with his two stepsisters. His goal at the beginning was so simple. Simon would confront his aunt regarding her duplicity resulting in his loss of inheritance, while giving his temperamental stepsisters a country outing. An elegant gentleman, Simon is unprepared for this shrew berating his parenting skills. After an enlightening conversation regarding his new status as his stepsisters' guardian, Simon decides to pursue the mortified beauty.

Simon's fascination with Henrietta ends when he becomes aware of her affliction. Henrietta refuses Simon's rejection and decides, with the help of Simon's aunt, to grab her dream through duplicity and trickery. Can their marriage survive, when all is revealed?

Witty dialog and exceptional secondary characters, especially Esme, make this a highly recommended book. Readers will enjoy revisiting characters from Ms. James' delightful DUCHESS IN LOVE.

Reviewed by Suan Wilson
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted July 16, 2003