Later on Adam says he's sorry, but (other than his wife cringing in fear from time to time), he pays no real penalty for what he did. It is a compelling and well told tale with excellent characterizations, but a rapist is a rapist, and excess brandy and personal stress can't excuse it - nothing can. I had very mixed feelings about this book. She and Adam continue the pretense of a successful society marriage, but it now seems there is no possibility their relationship could ever be anything but an empty facade.
Adam carries her upstairs to her bed and leaves her.Īpril burns her bloody nightgown, contrives so that her devoted maid Mattie won't see her bruises, and tells no one. Afterwards she is left bloody from the loss of her virginity, bruised and sobbing on the floor. It is not a seduction it is a violent and brutal rape (both characters recognize this fact). He becomes infuriated and rapes her to punish her. Adam develops a suspicious cough which steadily worsens April discovers that someone has switched the cigars Diana gave him as a gift for poisoned ones, and she is in the act of replacing them with good ones when he catches her and accuses her of being the poisoner.
As time goes on, they get to know each other a bit, and April begins to like him (Diana already adores him). Adam does not consummate the marriage he continues to see his mistress Molly (who has made the professional error of falling in love with her employer).Īdam gives April a makeover and they introduce Diana to society. April uses the incident to blackmail Adam into marrying her, so that she can bring out her beautiful but self-centered younger sister Diana. Nine years later Adam (now Earl of Glenville and an important figure in government) and April (now impoverished) meet by accident at an inn and are seen by one of Adam's political rivals. Miss April Wendover believes Adam Harding deliberately ruined her father Sir Charles (who gamed away his fortune and committed suicide) and killed her brother Basil (who died because he ignored the slight wound he received in their duel and developed blood poisoning). Reprinted 2001 together with The Luckless Elopement Published February 1984 by Signet Regency. Miss Spencer's Dilemma by Jeanne CarmichaelĬomplete Alphabetical Retro Read List * * * Browsing Retro Read titles (newest first) * * * Book reviews by author Marriage Scheme by Kathleen Elliott (Karen Harbaugh) Man Of Consequence by Jane Wilby (Anne Hampson) Lady Elizabeth's Comet by Sheila Simonson Gallant Governess by Pamela Frazier (Ellen Fitzgerald) Regency Content Regency Retro Reads Review 301 - 350īellwood Treasure by Lillian Lincoln (Barbara Hazard)ĭiamonds And The Arrogant Rake by Anne Hillary (Andrea Edwards)
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