This historical romance is unusual and
gripping from the start. A young woman who has seen two
sisters unhappily wed already, removes herself from her
father's London house to escape his overarching plans for
her own marriage. Nine years later she returns, UNWED AND
UNREPENTANT.
Lady Cordelia Armstrong hasn't found life to run smoothly
in the meantime, but she's set herself up well writing
travel guidebooks for ladies, and invested carefully.
Recently she toured the Highlands, and made the brief but
memorable acquaintance of a Scots engineer, Iain Hunter. In
order to travel respectably she called herself a plain
widow, so it's hard to say which of them is more surprised
when they meet again in her father's home.
Iain designs paddle steamers which ply the Clyde river, and
he has plans to sell ships to the Arab countries. Two of
Cordelia's sisters are now happily married to Arab sheiks,
so their family connection can ease him into the business.
Lord Armstrong however wishes only to put his wayward
daughter in her place - as he sees it - and instructs Iain
to marry Cordelia if he wants the contract. He has no idea
that they're better than close acquaintances already.
Cordelia doesn't wish to marry - certainly not anyone of
her father's choosing - but the devious lord won't allow
her to contact the rest of her family and she misses them.
In private, Iain suggests a truce, and a faux betrothal. He
needs the contract.
Oddly for a couple who can't keep their hands off each
other, and talk as equals, they don't want to get married.
On their travels we get to see the centre of Glasgow; the
East London docklands with coal, sugar, tea, silk and
spices; the ship building industry on the Isle of Dogs.
The clothes of the time are well described and the stiff
formality of women of propriety is a strong contrast with
Cordelia's more Continental manners. Then the two set sail
for Araby, and we see some Mediterranean sky, sand and sea
before they board a dhow at Cairo and ply the Red Sea.
A
novel of contrasts is the best way to describe UNWED AND
UNREPENTANT, making it a fascinating read. Margaret Kaye
has done her research well and shows a different side of
society to the formal balls of other stories. I greatly
enjoyed her adult romance and will look out for more of her
work.
Burned by love and fearful of being trapped by marriage,
headstrong Lady Cordelia Armstrong is furious when her
father manipulates her into a betrothal with his business
partner, and her one-time lover, Iain Hunter.
Understanding Cordelia's reluctance, Iain proposes a pretend
engagement. For now they will make believe, but there is no
need to fake the attraction that still burns hotly between
them. As they travel to magical Arabia, the lines between
fantasy and reality blur. Will either of them really be able
to walk away once their deal is done?
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