L'Ange de Vengeance, that's what the French called Lilias Fairchild, widow of Major Fairchild, whom she had accompanied in his battles during the war. Alastair Whitmore, Marquess of Angelstone, better known as Angel, never forgot the beautiful woman he had seen at Waterloo: wild with grief, avenging her husband's death, and her broken heart. What he didn't expect was meeting her at a Society event a few years later, and she remembers him as well.
The fearless Lilias instigates the affair with the enigmatic Angel, but as their liaison progresses, he wonders if his paramour is hiding more secrets than he is. He watches her discreetly but when she drops her reticule and he finds a medallion identical to those left by the Death Adders, assassins of political figures, he fears she might be involved with the deadly association.
IN BED WITH A SPY is the second instalment in the brilliant A Spy in the Ton series, and those who have not read the previous book will have no problem following as sufficient details are provided by the author. IN BED WITH A SPY is Angel's story, whom we had briefly met in Ms. Alexander's debut novel The Smuggler Wore Silk. I was anxiously awaiting this book; I had found Angel a very compelling character, and I was thrilled to learn IN BED WITH A SPY was his story; the book exceeds my wildest expectations! He and the deliciously seductive Lilias, a strong and brave woman, make a fabulous couple: as they try to mend their broken hearts, their passion burns high amidst treachery, secrecy and murder.
IN BED WITH A SPY is more subdued and nuanced than The Smuggler Wore Silk. It's reminiscent of great British spy novels albeit set in the Regency era with just the perfect touch of romance. I found most remarkable that the tone, the texture, the atmosphere, the colours even are entirely different from the first book: IN BED WITH A SPY is not just another book in a series, it is undeniably Angel's book. When the action and the romance become more intense, it becomes a real page-turner, and the last few chapters lead to a spectacular conclusion.
IN BED WITH A SPY is exquisitely written; Ms. Alexander's prose is elegant, as alluring as her characters, and she writes a mean action scene. I especially loved the oft forgotten little details: stockings and gloves; and the way Lilias uses her fan to flirt is positively divine! It's so cleverly described that I could picture her seductive half-smile, her barely lifted brow; it's a joy to read how perfectly Ms. Alexander understands and uses the subtleties of seduction. I am thrilled with Angel's story, and I cannot wait for the next instalment in this fabulous series.
Revenge has never been so seductive.
When her husband is killed at Waterloo, Lilias Fairchild
takes up his cavalry sword and boldly storms the front,
earning herself the nickname Angel of Vengeance. But there
is another angel on the battlefield who is just as
single-minded, and just as ruthlessβ¦
Alastair Whitmore, the Marquess of Angelstone, is a
British
spy. Code name: Angel. Still haunted by a first love
felled
by assassins, his mission draws him to Waterloo, where he
is
captivated by a beautiful and mysterious woman fighting
amongst the menβa woman who becomes his most intoxicating
memory of war.
Passion has never been so dangerous.
Two years later, Lilias and Angelstone lock eyes in a
crowded ballroom and the memory returns in an exhilarating
rush. The history they share, and hide from the world, is
as
impossible to ignore as the heat of their attraction. But
itβs that very connection that spells doom for their
scandalous affair. When someone from the shadows of their
past proves a dire threat to their lives, passion might
not
be enough to save them.
"Angelstone." She said it softly, so that he was compelled
to look at her face. Calmly, to hide the churning inside
her. Desire twined with loss. Lust merged with the need to
belong. The smile she sent him was full of invitation, the
finger flicking at her bodice a deliberate temptation. "Are
you ready to dance?"
His eyes went dark. Jaw clenched. A quick indrawn breath
rippled the air.
And then she was desirable.
"Indeed?" she mused aloud. He had seemed difficult to read,
his thoughts hidden behind a wall of charm and the impassive
mask of a spy. Apparently he had lost his ability to hide
his thoughts. Desire was something she recognized plainly
enough, and it sent a wicked thrill singing through her. It
was good to feel that way again, however fleeting.
It wasn't the brandy that caused the reciprocating desire
coursing through her. She'd found him attractive before. The
brandy only stripped away her better judgment. Falling in
lust with Angelstone—a spy—would be the height
of folly.
At the moment, it seemed the most reasonable thing in the world.
"Do you know the worst part of this entire situation?" After
setting down her glass she moved slowly forward, watching
him watch her.
"I can't imagine." Tawny eyes gleamed, stalking her every move.
"I spent six years of my life making love to a man, and I
barely knew him. I don't know if his love for me—his
desire for me—was real or an act." She couldn't
move backward in time to find out. But she could move
forward. She needed to move forward. She needed to
erase six years of uncertainty.
Angelstone was just the man to do it.
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