"Fine Regency romance"

Lord John Elliot knows that he and his six year old second cousin Chloe are lucky to be alive unlike the misfortunate little girl's parents. Wealthy elderly merchant Bernard Leggit arranged for them to die. Only the intercession of a smuggler Albert Parker, who placed the pair inside a coffin, saved them from death. That followed up by Albert's beloved Snowdrop's actions got Chloe and "Uncle" John past their killers.

John takes up residency at a family estate in Bath. He plans revenge via seducing Bernard's young trophy wife Hattie. However, after meeting her, instead of using the young lady, he finds himself quite attracted to her especially when John sees how crass and verbally abusive Bernard is to his spouse. Soon John falls in love with Hattie and she reciprocates, but she belongs to the odious Bernard who would never allow any of his possessions to get away from him.

Though Bernard is too nasty and too obsessed as the villain, Regency romance fans will welcome this delightful tale due to several wonderful characters. The lead couple makes the tale hum as he realizes that the pawn in his quest for vengeance has become his most cherished beloved and she understands the mistakes she made by acting alone against her spouse (for a change the parents are not held culpable though they arranged the match). Little silent Chloe adds an element of empathy so that the audience hopes for what seems the impossible: that of the lead couple together with Chloe forever.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 23, 2004

Summary

The Marquis of Granville's deadly efficiency makes him invaluable to the Crown. But his latest mission has nothing to do with his work for England and everything to do with avenging the murder of two members of his family. Killing would be too good for Bernard Leggit, the wealthy and corrupt merchant responsible for their deaths. Granville has a better plan: Seduce the old man's young wife, Hattie, then let society know about their affair. For Leggit, living with shame will be worse than death.

Hattie Leggit married her odious husband in a devil's bargain to save her parents from debtors' prison. She has a scheme for freeing herself from this private misery, but foiling Leggit is taking too long. The opportune arrival of the dashing Marquis of Granville inspires a daring new plan: Pretend to engage in a very discreet affair with Granville and make her freedom the price for not flaunting their liaison in society.

When Hattie responds to him, Granville smells his revenge, but nothing goes as he had planned. Hattie drives him wild with need, until he finds himself forgetting his purpose. Although desire is new to Hattie, she manages to resist surrender—until love and yearning conquer all doubts. But will they join forces in time to outwit a vicious enemy with more murder in mind?