In the Arms of a Marquess
In 1812, sixteen-year-old Octavia arrives in Madras to reside with her aunt and sister, whose husbands are East India Company officials. Besides getting bedazzled with the country and culture, she becomes besotted with the boy-next-door, Benjirou. He’s the son of an English marquess and an Indian lady. At Octavia’s eighteenth birthday party, they are discovered in a compromising situation, in the garden under a banyan tree. Ben is shunned. However, upon inheriting the title he is called back to England. Their paths cross again, when at “five-and-twenty” Octavia returns home. Although she is now betrothed, and Ben is seeing others, they discover, after stolen kisses and caresses, they are still smitten with each other. Will they consummate their passion? The love story and the weaving of an interesting mystery will keep readers engrossed.
This reviewer concurs with others’ rating of the sensuality level as “hot.” Ashe’s writing style is unique. Occasionally, exquisite passages of interior monologue follow a dialogue, which expound on the person’s thoughts and feelings. Readers will get enamored with this type of narration, and it will not disappoint aficionados of historical romance. The facts are mostly accurate, except perhaps for the flying of a Union Jack on a merchant vessel.
