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A whirlwind marriage to a dashing lord or being the daughter of aristocratic parents are dreams that governess Kitty Merrick should not entertain. Then Claud, Viscount Devenick, briefly mistakes her for his cousin and thus uncovers a scandalous family secret. Suddenly Kitty has her wishes granted and she and Claud are married. But Kitty soon realizes all she truly wants is his love--the one thing she cannot ask of him...
296 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2003
52 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bailey
95 books304 followersAn avid reader from an early age, Elizabeth Bailey grew up in colonial Africa under unconventional parentage and with theatre in the blood. Back in England, she trod the boards until discovering her true métier as a writer in her thirties, when she fulfilled an early addiction to Georgette Heyer by launching into historical romance. Eight years and eight books later, Elizabeth joined the Harlequin Mills & Boon stable, fuelling her writing with a secondary career teaching and directing drama, and writing plays into the bargain.
With 18 historicals published, Elizabeth turned to other genres, producing two titles (Fly the Wild Echoes and For One More Tomorrow) in the cross-genre literary/paranormal field as well as a suspense novella (Silence of a Stranger). She has several short stories available too and a guide for writers on editing.
Continuing her foray into other genres, but returning to her favourite historical period, Elizabeth turned to mystery. She placed her female sleuth in the late Georgian world of intrigue, elegance, aristocrats and rogues, where privilege rubbed shoulders with the harsh realities of making ends meet. While Ottilia moves in the upper echelon of Society, she is thoroughly at ease in the lower, which allows Elizabeth to cross boundaries with impunity. These novels are now published with Sapere Books and the list continues to grow.
Sapere also publish her Brides by Chance Regency Adventures, a series dedicated to the countless women who could not ordinarily hope for romance and marriage: poor relations, dowerless females, those who did not "take", orphans. In a word, the classic Cinderella heroine.
Now retired from teaching, Elizabeth concentrates on writing and promotion, with a sideline in running an assessment critique service for writers.
With 18 historicals published, Elizabeth turned to other genres, producing two titles (Fly the Wild Echoes and For One More Tomorrow) in the cross-genre literary/paranormal field as well as a suspense novella (Silence of a Stranger). She has several short stories available too and a guide for writers on editing.
Continuing her foray into other genres, but returning to her favourite historical period, Elizabeth turned to mystery. She placed her female sleuth in the late Georgian world of intrigue, elegance, aristocrats and rogues, where privilege rubbed shoulders with the harsh realities of making ends meet. While Ottilia moves in the upper echelon of Society, she is thoroughly at ease in the lower, which allows Elizabeth to cross boundaries with impunity. These novels are now published with Sapere Books and the list continues to grow.
Sapere also publish her Brides by Chance Regency Adventures, a series dedicated to the countless women who could not ordinarily hope for romance and marriage: poor relations, dowerless females, those who did not "take", orphans. In a word, the classic Cinderella heroine.
Now retired from teaching, Elizabeth concentrates on writing and promotion, with a sideline in running an assessment critique service for writers.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 3, 2019
The best of the Governesses Trilogy.
January 14, 2018
A rather mismatched pair, Claud and Kitty. Their romance did not really ring true. I still cannot really get past how closely they were related either.
December 12, 2024
Best one of the series.
March 28, 2025
I was glad to finally meet the fanciful Kitty. Goodness, she has quite the backstory. Claud is a reforming nodcock, thank goodness. A good finish to an enjoyable series.
July 21, 2019
Not clean - but married at least
Add one other reviewer mentioned. There is an explicit love scene, actually two, but it did occur at least in marriage. Yet I still he'll it is unnecessary to make the scenes so explicit. The story can be just as good without the details.
That being said, I loved this story, in that it varied from the other two friends of kitty's. It was a unique story and I loved the mystery of her birth.
Just skip the explicit stuff.
Add one other reviewer mentioned. There is an explicit love scene, actually two, but it did occur at least in marriage. Yet I still he'll it is unnecessary to make the scenes so explicit. The story can be just as good without the details.
That being said, I loved this story, in that it varied from the other two friends of kitty's. It was a unique story and I loved the mystery of her birth.
Just skip the explicit stuff.
October 26, 2024
2.5* not right for historical
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews