Her Gallant Captain at Waterloo (Harlequin Historical)
On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Lady Helene Banes arrives in Brussels to search for her younger brother, and there she meets Rhys Landon, now a captain in Wellington’s army. Years ago, she refused to marry him, but the attraction between them remains strong. Between the grave illness of her loyal servant and the reluctance of her irresponsible brother to leave what he anticipates will be a glorious adventure, her departure is delayed until it is too late. Both siblings are swept up into the battle, she helping a surgeon with the wounded, he nearly killed in a cavalry charge.
The attention to the relationship between the aristocracy and those of lower rank, though rather idealized, does offer interesting insights into social interaction during the era. More problematic are the formulaic characterization and the unerring ability of the characters to meet with each other despite the unlikely circumstances. Though they move the action forward, the frequency of their convenient encounters in the midst of a crowded city and a chaotic battlefield is an over-used plot device.
