Despite her love of Sicily and the joy she found there,
Thalia Chase determined that she was glad to be returning to
England to help her older sister, the beautiful but now
wan-looking Calliope Westwood, recover her energy and health
after the long and difficult birth of her daughter.
Thalia wished that she were as capable of helping
Calliope as their sister, Clio, who was off
on her honeymoon. Thalia didn't mind returning to England
since the handsome Italian man she longed for, Marco, Count
di Fabrizzi, had gone back to his home in Florence. She was
left only with what might have been.
Calliope's husband, Cameron, was devoted to his wife and
wanted to do everything possible to help her recover. He
leased a house in Bath so she could partake of the ancient
waters that had helped so many others over the centuries.
Thalia longed to have a husband as wonderful as her two
brothers-in-law, yet didn't feel it was possible. Even her
own family, who loved her acting and play writing, often
forgot that she was more than just a fragile blond beauty.
Certainly, none of the usual swains who clustered around her
at balls seemed to sense the intelligence and determination
under her beautiful veneer. That is none except Marco.
Thalia was shocked to see him again in Bath, especially
since he seemed to be at the beck and call of Lady
Riverton, an older, gaudy woman reputed to have
stolen a silver chalice set while in Sicily. When she
mentioned this mystery at home, her family branded Marco a
thief and ordered her not to get mixed-up with him. But
Thalia could not leave this mystery alone and she swore to
discover the truth.
Meanwhile, Marco was determined to find out if Lady Riverton
had the silver chalice. He was equally determined to dampen
his feelings for Thalia because he did not want to see
her hurt. But would Thalia's instincts for sleuthing
get them both killed?
Equally readable as a stand alone novel or read as part of
the "Chase Muses" series, Amanda McCabe has delivered a
riveting Regency romance with a very atypical heroine. The
storyline is nicely developed with intriguing tales of
mystery related to Marco, Thalia's sisters, and the
happenings in the antiquities market in the early 19th
century. Enjoy!
Leaving exotic Sicily behind, and with it her heart, Thalia
Chase returns to England to visit her sister and to try to
forget the enigmatic Italian Count di Fabrizzi. She's
shocked to suddenly see him in Bath and in the company of a
suspected thief!
Marco, Count di Fabrizzi, is on a
dangerous mission and doesn't need the beautiful Lady Chase
hindering his progress. But she is intent on adventure so
what is a gentleman to do when a lady is so insistent, and
so very passionate?