An arranged betrothal…
By royal approval!
As the servant girl who discovered she was the long-lost
daughter of a comte, Lilas Moreau is no stranger to scandal. Now, more famous
for her art, she won't have her independence threatened by the return of her
betrothed, Bastien, Duc de Languedoc. As a new attraction sizzles between them,
Lilas is relieved he wants to end their secret marriage contract. But a summons
from the queen means they're forced to continue their charade!
I enjoyed this unusual historical romance. It isn't often
I find one set in pre-Revolution France, and this is the first I've read that
involved people of color. When the story opens, Lilas is a servant in the home
of the Duc de Languedoc. She came to them from the orphanage she was left at as
a baby. As a mixed-race child, she suffered a lot of bullying at the orphanage
and later from the other servants on the estate. Her only friend was Bastien,
the duc's son, who was also mixed race. Bastien stands up for her when he can
and comforts her when he cannot.
In the opening chapter, we discover that eighteen-year-old
Lilas is the long-lost daughter of a comte, and she is to take her rightful
place in her father's home. At the same time, Bastien is informed by his father
that Lilas is his betrothed, an arrangement set up by their fathers before she
was born. Bastien has a difficult relationship with his controlling father, and
rather than accepting Lilas as his wife, he leaves on a Grand Tour. Lilas feels
betrayed as her only friend deserts her in her hour of need.
Four years later, Bastien returns to France. His father
is dead, and he is the new duc. His first order of business is to convince
Lilas to break their betrothal. He wants a wife with an impeccable background,
not one who used to be a servant. He feels it is necessary to restore the family's
honor after his father was banished for marrying a Maroon for love. He also
wants someone he would have no chance of falling in love with, as he remembers
his father being a broken man after his wife's death.
Lilas, whose arrival in Paris four years ago revived the
scandal of her parents' marriage, is now well-versed in society's behavior.
However, she is now more famous for her art, even gaining the queen's patronage.
She's dismayed by Bastien's return and wants nothing to do with their
betrothal. Determined to retain her independence, marriage is the last thing
she wants.
Unfortunately, their betrothal becomes public knowledge,
bringing them to the queen's attention. They are forced to play the part until
they can find a way to safely part ways. Neither counted on their sizzling
attraction, and each fought hard against it. Several times I wanted to reach
into the pages and shake Bastien. I thought his treatment of the woman who was
once his best friend was unnecessarily cruel. To repeatedly tell her that she wasn't good enough to be his wife was a terrible thing, especially when
he would turn around and be sensitive and supportive.
Meanwhile, Lilas is caught in a battle with herself. She
is still hurt and angry over how he left her, but she can't deny the feelings
he stirs in her. Sometimes she thinks he returns her feelings, but then he'll
turn cold again. It doesn't help that her stepmother frequently plays on her
fears by suggesting that Bastien has ulterior motives.
When circumstances make it advisable for them to marry,
Bastien suggests a marriage of convenience. One that will remain unconsummated,
allowing them to seek an annulment after a while. But being together all the
time strains the control Bastien has worked so hard to cultivate. When that
control finally snaps, Bastien must decide whether to admit his feelings or
continue to fight them.
Since their betrothal became public, Lilas has received
several warnings that she is in danger. Bastien's unexpected arrival foiled an
attack outside the dressmaker's. Someone slipped a sleeping draught into
Lilas's drink on their wedding day, prompting Bastien to take them out of Paris
to his family estate. There a collapsed balcony railing shows that danger has
followed them. Though the culprit was not a surprise, the motivation was not
what I expected. The final confrontation was intense and heartbreaking. It had
the benefit of breaking through Bastien's fears and showing him his feelings
for Lilas. I loved Bastien's emotional confession. The epilogue was a terrific
wrap-up, giving a glimpse of their lives a year and a half later.
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