The year is 1803 and England and France are bickering.
Napoleon is hoping to break the English, so he supports a
group of Irish rebels in uprisings against them. To help
with this, the Black Tulip, France's most deadly spy, has
arrived in Ireland. Also in the same area is England's best
spy, the Pink Carnation. Back in England, Letty Alsworthy
is oblivious to anything dealing with Napoleon, spies or
espionage. Soon, with no warning, she will be thrust into
the middle of it all.
It's midnight in England and the only thing on Letty's mind
is putting a stop to the elopement between her older sister
Mary and Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe (second in command of
the League of the Purple Gentian). In her attempt to save
her sister from shame, Letty and Geoffrey are caught in a
compromising position and forced into marriage. Even before
the wedding guests leave, Geoffrey mysteriously departs for
Ireland to see about a horse. Letty decides to board a ship
to Ireland to find her husband and explain that she did not
trick him into the marriage. What she uncovers could put
both of their lives in danger.
Letty dons dark clothing and travels as the widow Mrs.
Alsdale. Not long after her arrival, she runs into her
husband at a party. Neither one realizes they are
both "undercover" and it gets tricky when someone
recognizes Letty from her wedding. Geoffrey reluctantly
explains to Letty what he secretly does, and against his
better judgment, enlists her help with the mission. During
their assignment, they begin to fall in love. As people
they know are murdered, Geoffrey wants nothing more than to
complete the mission and get back to England with Letty.
THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING is the third book in Ms.
Willig's Pink Carnation series. Throughout the book, Willig
intersperses the findings of present-day researcher Eloise
Kelly as she researches for her dissertation about Geoff,
Letty, the Black Tulip and numerous others, while at the
same time she hopes that Colin Selwick (descendent of
Henrietta Selwick Dorrington) will ask her out. Although I
haven't read the first two books, THE SECRET OF THE PINK
CARNATION and THE MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP, I found that
THE DECEPTION OF THE EMERALD RING stands well on its own. I
plan on reading the first two and cannot wait for the
fourth book.
The year is 1803 and England and France remain at odds.
Hoping to break the English once and for all, Napoleon
backs a ring of Irish rebels in uprisings against England
and sends the Black Tulip, France’s most deadly spy, to
the Emerald Isle to help. What they don’t know is that
also in Ireland is England’s top spy, the Pink Carnation,
who is working to shut the rebels down.
Meanwhile, back in
England, Letty Alsworthy intercepts a note indicating that
her sister, Mary, is about to make the very grave mistake
of eloping with Geoffrey Pinghingdale-Snipe (second in
command of the League of the Purple Gentian). In an
attempt to save the family name, Letty tries to stop the
elopement, but instead finds herself swept away in the
midnight carriage meant for her sister and is accidentally
compromised. Geoff and Letty, to each other’s horror, find
themselves forced into matrimony.
Then, Geoff receives
word that he is to travel to Ireland to help the Pink
Carnation and disappears immediately after their wedding
ceremony. Letty learns of Geoff’s disappearance and, not
to be outdone by her husband, steals away on a ship bound
for Ireland, armed and ready to fight for her husband…and
to learn a thing or two about spying for England.