A silky weaving of humor and intrigue, Alexander's newest Regency-era romance (following Love with the Proper Husband
) launches with the death of Delia Effington's rakehell husband, who was secretly an English spy. The two had been married only a matter of days, and now Delia, widowed and wealthy, finds herself adrift in an unfamiliar house with only a few servants to keep her company. Little does she know that her husband's death put her under government suspicion, and handsome spy Viscount Tony St. Stephens has infiltrated her home in the guise of an elderly butler to protect her and to pry out her secrets. And little does Tony know that he'll fall fast and hard for Delia. Alexander raises the stakes when Delia begins to masquerade as her twin sister, and Tony tosses off his white wig and begins to court Delia. Though the oftentimes dim-witted Delia doesn't ring true as an adventuress and the aristocratic hero/spy character has become a cliché, Alexander's offering showcases the playful prose and seamless storytelling that have turned readers into fans and landed her books on bestseller lists. (Dec.)
