This was a darling read filled with characters to remember, circumstances better forgotten, and an ever after you won't soon forget. If you don't fall in love with Mary, I couldn't possibly fathom what the devil is wrong with you because she is so good of heart, so well meaning, so...everything....it's a wonder Sir Nicholas doesn't fall at her feet and declare his love the moment he lays eyes upon her. My heart burst with pride when she helped pull Beatrice out of her shell a bit by having her be understood and heard. She even told a certain Baronet what's what...and lived to tell the tale...and what's more, become a guest of the household...but those circumstances are for you to discover.

Sir Nicholas wasn't hard on the heart either. Despite his "above thee" attitude, you can sense beneath it all beats a heart most uncommon for the age AND his gender. He appreciates the finer things in life...and that includes a certain Governess that has darkened his door, and not merely for her beauty! No, he is appreciative of her mind, of her opinions, of the fact that she will call him out, but only because she knows he can be better.

If you're not simply there for the romance of it all though, there is also the plot gathering traitors, secret messages, and prisoners who may or may not be guilty that Mary is downright dedicated to having freed. I rather adored my time between the pages, and quite rightly believe that you too will feel the same!



**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own ( )

Sir Nicholas Denny is determined to have a quieter spring than usual, so he puts some plans in place. Hire some extra people, have some events and hopefully his sister and her children will be sufficiently distracted for him to be able to have more time to himself than usual.
Mary Smith's father has been accused of treason and her finishing school takes no time in putting her out. She goes to an employmet agency and they think she might be a good fit for the job of assistant governess. It's close to her father's living and she might be able to help.
When Sir Nicholas meets Mary he thinks that she's not much to think about but his opinion changes over time and she's growing on him. She's making him think about things and they're dealing with different issues.
I enjoyed it, bad decisions book club book. There were a few things that niggled a little but overall it was a fun diverting read. ( )