.by Johanna Lindsey.
Morrow hardback, 376 pages. 2000.
Historical. England.
.
Duncan MacTavish has grown up under one grandfather’s care in Scotland, but now that his other grandfather is in poor health, he is being sent to England to prepare to become his heir. This was an arrangement made since his birth. A bride has been selected for him and he meets her for the first time while in London. The beautiful Ophelia, spoiled as she is gorgeous, has decided before even meeting her fiance that he will never do since he comes from Scotland. He overhears her crude remarks about him to others and immediately says the engagement is off. That is that and he and his grandfather then remove themselves to the country estate where a huge ball is planned to introduce Duncan to the cream of the crop of eligibles.
Before the ball, he meets a neighbor while riding. Sabrina makes him forget his upset and he laughs easily. He likes her. Amazed that she isn’t invited, he invites her himself. She is not considered eligible for rumors have it that there is bad blood in her family – members dying at an early age. The night spent at the ball goes wonderfully for them and he hardly leaves her side. He assures his concerned grandfathers that she is only a good friend and not to worry about his closeness to her. The one grandfather then talks to the girl and warns her that Duncan may think to ask for her hand in marriage, but only because he is comfortable with her and not because he loves her and so she should be warned what a mistake it would be to wed under the circumstances.
Meanwhile, Ophelia has decided now that she would like to be wed to the handsome heir and does all she can to entice him, but he is absolutely not interested and can only think of Sabrina. The spoiled Ophelia then becomes vindictive and creates trouble with her lying and poisonous tongue.
This was a refreshing and delightful story. However, later in the book, I grew increasingly uncomfortable with some of the plot twists. I really liked this and thought it one of the better stories of recent date by Lindsey, tho. Duncan might have been a dunderhead for being so blind and dense, for overlooking a night of passion and not expressing how he felt about it. The one girl who could have changed everything might have had a very flimsy excuse for hiding away, but that just added to the suspense. It may have had these, and some other flaws, but the humor and light touch to this whole story is well told and I look forward to what must be a sequel coming with the tale of Duncan’s new friend. (How I loved the scene where he slammed the door in that friend’s face!)