A Wicked Gentleman

Feather commences her Cavendish Square trilogy with this intriguing, satisfying Regency. Lady Cornelia ""Nell"" Dagenham, a war widow, travels to London with her young children and sister-in-law, Lady Aurelia Farnham, and their friend Lady Livia Lacey, who has recently inherited a London home. Once in London, the ladies make the acquaintance of Harry, Viscount Bonham, a spy for the Crown who wishes to purchase Livia's home. His motives are simple-to recover a thimble hidden in the home before French enemies can find it and crack the code it hides. Bonham quickly ingratiates himself with the ladies, especially Nell, agreeing to introduce the women into London society. The scintillating liaisons between Nell and Bonham resonate both with Bonham's caustic wit and Nell's superior intellect. As passion mounts, so do complications, turning Bonham's simple mission into a complex balancing act. Meanwhile, Nell fears that an affair with Bonham could cause scandal sufficient to lose her guardianship over her children. The captivating romance is buttressed by rich characters and an intense kidnapping subplot, making this a fine beginning for Feather's new series.