twoNewly named Viscount, Maximilian Dane, is drunk. He's mourning his brother's death. He meets Anna Rees, the daughter of a woman who operates in the demimonde. No one knows who her father is or even her birth date. Anna, has been kept from the society with which her mother surrounds herself, resulting in a shy young woman who is highly educated but has no social skills.

She meets the Viscount when he gets turned around looking for a bedroom. They spend several hours conversing until he falls asleep. Vowing to keep in touch, it will be four years before they meet again.

Anna has discovered the probable identity of her father and seeks to make her escape from her manipulative mother. Along with her companion, Mrs. Culpepper, she travels to meet her newly discovered family. On her arrival at Caldwell Manor, she meets not only her half brother but Max Dane.

Viscount Dane has never forgotten the young woman who he spent those hours talking with. They told each other things that had never been said to others. He resents Anna because she turned him away when he tried to see her again. He is prepared to expose her for the conniving witch he believes her to be; until he meets her again. After Anna denies all knowledge of her mother's manipulations, the attraction between the two of them blooms again. Anna never expected to find such acceptance from her father's legitimate family and she relaxes in their company until her mother appears in the village.

When Mrs. Wrayburn, Anna's mother, tries to put a spike in Anna's plans to lease a small cottage and live quietly near Mrs. Culpepper and her sister, Max's will take steps to remove Anna from her mother permanently.

Ms. Johnson's books are favorites of mine because they are more like the traditional regency genre. There are long periods of conversation and the characters get to know each other before any sexual intimacy takes place. She is a master storyteller and I always enjoy her stories. PRACTICALLY WICKED is particularly entertaining with the byplay between Max and Anna.