Far Beyond Rubies
Inside Riverside House in England in 1706, the seventh baron William Kemp is heard shouting at his 18-year-old attractive half-sister: “Bastards, Juliana! You and your sister are bastards.” He plans to banish them from Riverside. William has not only inherited the title but is claiming the estate as well. Juliana knows that under her grandpère’s will, she was the rightful heir. Juliana has to prove her legitimacy and her claim.
Juliana and her sister flee Riverside to seek legal counsel in London. With William in pursuit, Juliana meets a suave gentleman named Gervaise. He has recently returned from India, having amassed a fortune and a dark complexion to boot. He offers to help Juliana in her quest as he is immediately besotted by her, for she reminds him of his late Indian wife. His proposal leads to more than a helping hand.
Rosemary Morris has penned a magnificent historical romance with superb, intimate descriptions and politico-religious conflicts of the era which immerse us into an elite society. The inclusion of snippets about Indian customs, religion and cuisine give the story a unique flavor. While the ending is predictable, the plot twists in Juliana’s and Gervaise’s quest and the evocative narration of the sexual tension between them keeps us turning the pages. Highly recommended.
