Stories about countesses are few, and this is one of the
more unusual period romances for another reason. The Age of
Enlightenment is being thrust upon people who don't
necessarily wish to see it, and Violet Waterfield attends
scientific lectures, as many ladies do. THE COUNTESS
CONSPIRACY however means that the man presenting the
lecture is only voicing the work of Violet, Countess of
Cambury. In 1867 for Violet to have written treatises on
mating and evolution would be scandalous.
Sebastian Malheur, who unwillingly presents the work as his
own, is also taking all the reproach. He's godfather to
his young nephew, and it's clear that his brother's heart
is weakened. Sebastian would like to be appointed guardian
to the boy, but he has neither title nor trade to support
himself. Violet has been paying him, and if he leaves her
work he loses that income. By remaining single he's chalked
up quite a rake's reputation and Violet decides it would be
unwise to introduce her niece Amanda to him; the girl is
enjoying her first Season and hopes for a good match... but
not too soon. Married life seems so unadventurous.
Violet has an autocratic mother who helped her two untitled
girls to excellent marriages with her strict rules of
deportment and speech. The characters are excellently
portrayed with a great deal of contrast, reminding me of a
Jane Austen book at times. Violet's greenhouse system of
cross-pollination and recording of her observations leave
us in no doubt of her rigorous methods. Another scientist
tells Sebastian that more than a few men are greatly aided
by their wives during research, and a couple may be
considered as one entity, so the men are entirely guileless
in calling the research their own. Sebastian however has
no hopes of wedding the widowed Countess. After her
elderly husband died, she never showed interest in any man.
With mentions of fashions and new aniline dyes, Courtney
Milan skilfully blends female trivia of the times with
botanical laboratory work. I highly commend her delightful
story THE COUNTESS CONSPIRACY as a tale of intelligent
women in an age when women were not allowed to be
intelligent, and their advancement of scientific discovery.
The author's note mentions Rosalind Franklin, co-discoverer
of the structure of DNA for which Crick and Watson were
awarded the Nobel Prize. I am seriously impressed by
Courtney Milan's adult romance and will be looking out for
more books in the Brothers Sinister series.
Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an
educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the
bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his
scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and
despised—and he laughs through it all.
Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the
other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to stay
that way. But Violet has a secret that is beyond ruinous,
one that ties her irrevocably to England’s most infamous
scoundrel: Sebastian’s theories aren’t his. They’re hers.
So when Sebastian threatens to dissolve their years-long
conspiracy, she’ll do anything to save their
partnership...even if it means opening her vulnerable heart
to the rake who could destroy it for good
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