Escapade

In this lively new offering by a veteran writer of historical romance, sheltered heiress Charlotte Comyn flees a marriage proposal, a nervous stomach and misunderstandings with her parents. Disguised in her brother's clothes, she appears at the London home of her mother's estranged best friend, the famous actress Beth Prior, who, though short on reputation, is long on beauty, talent and brains. With Napoleon at the height of his power, Beth also has a mission: through an intermediary, the English Foreign Secretary has asked the actress to befriend exiled Hapsburg queen Maria Carolina of Naples and convince her to remain allied with Britain. Charlotte accompanies Beth into the roiling political cauldron of Sicily for an escapade of intrigue, excitement and danger that ultimately throws each of these capable, independent women into the appropriate arms as all is happily resolved. Hodge ( Wind over ) works her usual magic as believable characters do plausible things, seamlessly incorporated into the history of their period setting. (Oct.)