Beautiful Innocence
London 1900. The eponymously beautiful Hester, daughter to Lord Stanmore, endures a brutal sexual assault outdoors at a soirée. She swears her assailant was the inherently capricious Jeffery Ardmore, son of the Duke of Renton, and, against all advice, presses charges. However, the “not guilty” verdict shocks everyone, and instantly she plummets from must-have guest to a social pariah who dared to insult high society, or worse, lied. But, has the judge or jury been bribed? Something isn’t right. With hate-mail accumulating, for their protection Hester again defies her family’s wishes and leaves for a secret coastal destination until things have died down. Meanwhile, her Uncle Harry’s new pal, enigmatic Dan Hansen, youngest son of a shipping magnate and “a man on the side of justice”, insists on helping her uncover the truth. His investigations culminate in another dramatic trial, after which, Hester’s innate values outshine her hereditary status.
This tale of determination, love and kindness, although not complex (occasionally bordering on simplicity) nevertheless strides along within a genteel narrative which wastes no time in advancing the plot. The polite and proper language enhances the late-Victorian setting and offers a refreshing change from the hurly-burly background of other novels. From a writer who evidently knows both her audience and a winning formula, this book does not disappoint.
