Duke of Disguise (Ladies of Worth series)
John, Lord Avers—titled despite being the third son of a duke—is in 1776 Paris posing as the Duke of Tremaine to help his cousin discover who is stealing British military secrets. As he ingratiates himself with the French nobles he believes responsible, Avers finds his memories of a previous romantic betrayal fading beneath the smiles of Emilie Cadeaux, the beautiful companion to the Comte de Vergelles. Though continually outwitted by his adversaries, Avers pursues Emilie from Paris to London, escaping attempts on his life to rescue the woman he loves and her little dog, too.
Though not overtly religious, this is a chaste romance. Emilie, meek and demure, clings to her virtue as she passes from man to man, lacking the resources to strike out on her own. Avers’ antics as a would-be spy occupy most of the story; the depths of feeling the leads develop are based on very few scenes together. Details add to the setting, though the glossary at the end should be unnecessary if both author and reader are alert to usage. While the action follows familiar patterns, readers drawn to espionage narratives might enjoy the innocence and quiet dilemmas of these protagonists.
