Returning from battle
To a mansion in disarray!
When James, Viscount Grayford, returns home with his
reputation in tatters, the last thing he needs is incompetent new housekeeper
Emma Bryant! But beneath her drab gown and ugly cap is a pretty young woman of
quality, forced to work by straitened circumstances. As she proves steadfast
and courageous in helping him clear his name, James can't help but want her --
even if what burns between them is utterly forbidden…
Good book. James, Viscount Grayford, recently returned to
England after a diplomatic mission went terribly wrong. He also recently
inherited the title after the death of his older brother. A former soldier, he
never expected to inherit and isn't very happy about it. Add in the whispers
and outright accusations of fraud/treason over that mission, and he is in an
understandably foul mood when he arrives at his estate. He is dismayed by the
visible neglect of the estate and disgusted by the foul stench he encounters as
he enters the house. Facing an incompetent new housekeeper is the icing on the
cake.
Emma took the job as a housekeeper to help support her
father after he lost his money in bad investments. As a young woman of quality,
she has no experience but was hired anyway by a crooked steward. Unfortunately,
the remaining staff show her no respect and actively work against her. Emma is
horrified when the new viscount arrives just as they are cleaning up from a housekeeping
disaster.
I ached for Emma. She is desperate to make a good showing
and is constantly undermined by the other staff members. It doesn't help that
James's foul mood makes him extra critical. James has his own set of problems.
The investigation after his mission found no proof of guilt, but neither would
they declare him innocent, leaving him at the mercy of Society's gossips. He
left town looking for some peace before beginning an investigation of his own.
However, peace is hard to come by with Emma on duty.
I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship
between Emma and James. Initially, the antagonism was front and center, but
underneath the sparks of anger were sparks of another kind. I liked seeing
James loosen up a little and give Emma a chance to prove herself. I also liked
Emma's firm belief in James's innocence and her insistence that he tries to
clear his name sooner rather than later. The more time they spent together, the
stronger their attraction grew. Both tried to resist because of the gap between
them, but the attempts grew more difficult as time went on. There are some
sweet scenes of them together, but reality is never far away.
The attraction continues to build as the story moves to
London. Emma and her father go along to help James with his investigation. Other
factors at play drive a wedge between James and Emma. James fears for her
safety, while his withdrawal plays on Emma's insecurities. At times, I wanted
to shake Emma because there wasn't the gap she thought there was. I loved the
scene with James's army regiment and the surprising development with some of
the younger members. I enjoyed the twist that came out of it. Her father's
comment made me laugh out loud. The epilogue was a terrific peek at their
future.
I enjoyed the mystery of the antique book at the center
of James's disgrace. A one-of-a-kind volume, its disappearance caused an
international incident. I understood James's need to get away and regroup, but it also felt like he was giving up. On
one side, he had his cousin telling him to give it more time. And on the other,
Emma insisted that leaving it too long would allow the trail to grow cold. I
loved how she got her history scholar father involved. There were some exciting
twists in the search for the truth, with Emma playing a significant role. The
final resolution was good but a slight letdown as it happened off-page and was
related later rather than showed. I figured it out pretty early in the story,
but that didn't lessen my enjoyment.
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