With this second installment in her "kissing" series (after The Widow's Kiss) Feather once again delivers her trademark blend of passion and suspense. Set in 16th-century England during the reigns of Princess Mary and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the historical romance begins when heartbroken yet strong-willed Lady Pen Bryanston suffers a twin loss—her frail husband dies, leaving Pen widowed and pregnant, and a few months later, after hours of grueling labor, the child is delivered stillborn—or so claims Pen's mother-in-law, the dowager countess of Bryanston. Pen is convinced she heard her baby cry at birth yet the countess insists that Pen was hallucinating. Is Pen just a grieving widow in denial, or did the countess give away the baby in order to secure the earlship for her favorite son? Two years go by, during which Pen recovers from the ills of her labor and obsesses over the child she believes is still alive. Enter Owen d'Arcy, a master spy commissioned by the French ambassador to bed Pen, who happens to be a confidante of Princess Mary and cousin of the Holy Roman emperor. D'Arcy's plan to seduce Pen to secure the royal secrets goes awry when his passionate advances are met with cold laughter. Chagrined and challenged, d'Arcy doubles his amorous efforts until Pen relents when she learns that he is a spy and willing to defect to her cause. Together the two set out to uncover the mystery of her lost child. Passion and intrigue abound in this lusty yet dignified bodice-ripper. (Mar. 5)
