In a family of rogues with a tradition going back for eight generations, young Marquis of Warrick--heir to a dukedom--refused to follow in his father's steps and chose to walk the straight road. No seduction of well born ladies, no game of chase-the-maid either. And what was the worst, he found a job with the Customs Board chasing the smugglers off the coast. The young Marquis thrived, but no matter how well he performed, no matter what he did, his family's licentious reputation went ahead of him. By the time he was thirty-one, he was the scourge of the smugglers.

And Tobias Brown, their leader, came up with a plan--infiltrate the enemy!

Easier said then done . . . until an announcement in the newspaper gave him the needed opening. The Marquis was looking for a nurse for a difficult child.

When most beautiful Mary Brown Callahan presented herself for an interview for the nurse post, little she knew what was in store for herself. She decided to let the job go away, as she was there at her father's behest, and had no intention of leaving her present occupation as Artemis, rider extraordinaire with the Royal Circus.

Gabby, the little darling for whose benefit she had come to the Marquis's home, was an obnoxious girl of eight, terribly lonely and with a huge chip on her shoulder--her mother had left her on her father's doorsteps--she was a bastard. And she lived up to her name!

As sparks had started to fly as soon as the interview was under way, Mary did not want to accept the job. The 'cull' was too uptight, no smile, no gentleness . . . until the little termagant came into the room. Mary's reactions to his daughter convinced the Marquis to offer her the post even though Mary had done everything in her power to get dismissed.

From here on, a small monkey named Abu and a chain of events including night traveling, kidnapping, arrest for theft, and many more, became their new way of life, leading to the discovery of their attraction to one another. It culminated with a night of magic love spoiled by his offering to her of the position of mistress. Though of much lower birth than he, Mary would not accept to make her way "on her back." She left her love with a broken heart and returned to her horse riding.

Of course there is a happy ending, but 'tis up to you to read it. I will not tell.

The plot is woven with splendid mastery, the historical background will not distract the reader from her enjoyment of the story. Mary and her stuffy lover come alive from the book's pages.

Reviewed By: Raluca Popov
© JULY 2004