A Treacherous Proposition

Vincent Ingleton, Earl of Lonsdale has been fighting an attraction for his only friend's wife, Lady Diana Corby. Now that her husband, Wynmond Corby is dead he tricks Lord St. Edmunds into a game of dice to further gain the rights to be Lady Diana's supporter. Lady Diana and Vince knew what plans St. Edmunds had in mind for her. The Honorable Justinian Sudbury, St. Edmund and Vince were on hand as Corby was knifed. The Earl packed up Lady Diana and her children, Selena, six years old and Bytham, four years old and took them to his step-mother [and former lover?] Helen Barbon, Lady Litton. She is now married to Adam Barbon, Viscount Litton It is made apparent that her brother, Charles Randolph, Earl of Caldbeck took a switch to Vince years ago and got him to change his life around. Lonsdale was on his way to being completely distructive. It seems that everyone is either running from or trying to find the assassin, "Deimos". It appears that no one has seen him in person and he is a threat to the Crown and supporter of Napoleon. Many of the secondary characters are very noteworthy especially Throckmorton, the vigilant protector of the children. The traveling at night and eluding the persuers keeps up the suspence. Lonsdale considers himself to be on his own and yet Litton and Caldbeck show up to help him along with a visit from Sudbury. Just keeps getting better what with Diana not knowing who to trust and Lonsdale not trusting anyone. All in all, quite a good intrigue for the eighteen hundreds Definitely Recommended --M [the little twits still headed for her bed] what happened to the distrust issue?

In 1814 London, Lord Wynmond Corby dies from injuries he suffered leaving behind his wife Diana and their two small children Bytham and Selena. Lord St. Edmonds offers to help the beautiful widow with an "arrangement" to pay off her debts; however, Earl Vincent Inglets intercedes as Wyn was his only friend. Vincent persuades St. Edmonds to roll the dice for who would protect the widow. They "exchange" dice and Vincent wins to the relief of Diana. Following the funeral someone abducts Bytham, but before the hoodlum can escape with the child, Vincent rescues him; the thug escapes. Vincent wonders if the return of Napoleon from exile, the death of Wyn, and the kidnap attempt are related to the deceased's work at the Home Office. Vincent takes the widow and her kids to a safe estate of his to keep them safe, but someone believes they have information Wyn accumulated leaving no haven for the grieving family. However, he never expected Diana to prove that he is worthy of being loved while demonstrating she can be trusted to safeguard his heart. Though similar to many entries in the sub-genre, readers will gain pleasure form this tremendous Regency romantic suspense. Wyn is a fabulous protagonist trusting no one as he learned his life lessons as a child under the odious tutelage of his sire; Diana needs him not just to keep her offspring safe, but because she trusts him with her heart and soul. The espionage subplot engages the reader mostly because it propels Wyn to hang around though he finds his guest to be A DANGEROUS SEDUCTION and fears his lack of control will lead to A SCANDALOUS SITUATION. Harriet Klausner