Lady of Sin
In an effort to throw off the lethargy that had plagued her since her husband’s death, Charlotte Mardenford had attended an orgy while wearing a mask. While there she had a sexual encounter with Nathaniel Knightridge, a man with whom she had clashed on previous occasions. Nathaniel, an aristocrat and a lawyer, is haunted by the death sentence received by a young boy he defended. Charlotte doesn’t know if Nathaniel recognized her at the orgy, and is surprised by the passionate and emotional connection she feels to him. Then Charlotte’s late husband’s family is threatened by blackmail and the possible existence of a child who would have a claim to the title currently held by her brother-in-law. Nathaniel vows to investigate for the boy’s sake, and he and Charlotte are drawn together in their search for the truth.
The mystery surrounding the boy’s identity was enjoyable, as was the romance between Charlotte and Nathaniel. Although this story is set in 19th century England and Charlotte is ostensibly involved in the campaign to reform women’s rights, it is not central to the plot and only merits a few pages in the whole book; this disappointed me somewhat. Overall, an enjoyable read.
