Lady Malvern’s <title>Lady Malvern's Mystery

Theodora never knew how innocent she was until she tried to hide her secrets from Lord Fordingbridge…

Lord Fordingbridge had intended to find a sweet chit to wed and produce an heir… someday. Between restoring the family fortune and estate, and arranging for the education and care of his two young orphaned nieces, Kit never found time to look for a bride. As Lily and Isabelle’s first season is imminent he is growing desperate to find a respectable female relative to act as their chaperone. Pity he never took advantage of his status as a wealthy, attractive bachelor and had a wife to take charge.

Due to her dire financial position, Theodora, Lady Malvern is unhappily working as a paid companion when she receives a letter from an unknown distant relative, Lord Fordingbridge. He is apparently looking for a suitable female relative to help with his nieces. She leaps at the chance and wears her one remaining fashionable gown to the meeting at Markesby House. An attraction between Lord Fordingbridge and “Cousin Theodora” is shared and instantaneous. Both hide their true feelings but as they are drawn together during the twins many outings, their comfortable friendship is obviously much, much more.

Sarah Fairchilde’s main characters both have hidden pasts which affect the way that they view the world and each other. Theodora was taken as an innocent into the indecent and cruel world of her profligate husband. She celebrated the news of his death and is frightened that Lord Fordingbridge and his nieces will spurn her if they learn of her past. She is understandably terrified of physical contact with any man. Past associations with women who were mainly interested in him for position, title and money have made Kit wary of being manipulated by another female. The time spent with his nieces has mellowed his attitude somewhat and he cannot deny a growing attraction to their new chaperone. The chaperone is, of course, clearly unavailable… no matter how much he desires her. Theodore’s forgotten past raises its ugly head and leads Kit, and his nieces, Lily and Isabelle on quite an adventure.

This historical adventure will keep readers guessing as the pace and danger looming picks up in the final chapters. Sweetly erotic scenes distract the reader from a growing sense of danger leaving them unprepared for the surprise conclusion. Some of the earlier dilemmas were solved a little too neatly for this reader, but I was impressed with the way that the author tied up all of the loose ends and kept the characters true. An enjoyable tale, I would love to read more of Sarah Fairchilde’s stories.

Reviewed by: Naomi