"Engaging regency romance"

In 1782 Paris, Jeanne du Marchand loves her Scottish boyfriend Douglas Macrae and he loves her. They plan to marry, but her irate father learns she is pregnant. He informs her that her lover left for Scotland and sends his whore daughter to a convent with instructions to a female servant to kill the child.

Ten years later in Scotland, Douglas visits Hartley on business when he sees the governess is Jeanne, whom he thought was dead. Douglas wants revenge for her jilting him and for leaving their daughter to die. Through a du Marchand servant, he raises their child. When Hartley tries to make love to his governess, Jeanne flees into the night, but Douglas' servant catches her and brings her to him. He offers her a position as governess to his daughter, but the two fall into each other's arms and makes love. As she works for him as the governess to his daughter, their love of a decade ago resurfaces, but neither trusts the other in spite of a matchmaking child until evil resurfaces and forces the truth out of both them.

This engaging regency romance stars two hurting souls who fail to recognize that her sire outmaneuvered them when they were young. The story line is a solid tale of mistrust as neither will open up first to the person they love. The return of evil may serve as the catalyst that brings the duo tighter and adds suspense, but though explained seems unnecessary and stretched. Still fans will enjoy this delightful historical because of the deep rooted feelings (love and hate) on the part of Douglas and Jeanne.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 9, 2004