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Description edit
There comes a time in a woman's life when she must do the unthinkable - and find employment. For the widowed Anna Wren, that means taking a job as female secretary for the Earl of Swartingham. Secretaries are always male - never female - as Anna well knows but the real downfall of her career... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Anna Wren: Widow, heroine of this book. Takes job working as Edward's secretary.
- Edward de Raaf, Earl of Swartingham: Sole survivor of his family of a smallpox outbreak. Terribly scarred from surviving the pox. Lord of Ravenhill Abbey. Interested in agricultural and is member of Agrarian Society.
- Mother Wren: Anna's mother-in-law. They share a cottage.
- Felix Hopple: Edward's estate manager, wore outrageous vests
- Rebecca Fairchild: Anna's friend, pregnant.
- Davis: Edward's elderly valet. Formerly was the valet of Edward's father.
- Viscount Simon Iddesleigh: Edward's friend
- Harry Pye: Edward's friend. Land steward.
- Peter Wren: Anna's deceased husband. A lawyer.
- Dr. Billings: Called to help Pearl
- Felicity Clearwater: A woman in town who looked down her nose at Anna, but had a secret. Married to the town squire.
- Pearl Smythe: A prostitute. Anna found her, hurt, and risked problems taking her home to heal.
- Coral Smythe: Pearl's sister. A prostitute who is under the protection of a Marquis.
- Reginald Clearwater: Felicity's husband, town squire.
- John Coachman: Driver of Edward's coach.
- Sylvia Gerard: Edward's betrothed
- Chilton Lillipin: A close "intimate" of Felicity Clearwater. Called "Chilly".
- Aphrodite: The proprietress of the bordello, Aphrodite's Grotto. Formerly known as Mrs. Lavender.
- Lazarus Lillipin: Member of the Agrarian Society. Elder brother of Chilton.
- Christine: Daughter of the Clearwaters.
- Cynthia: Daughter of the Clearwaters.
- Mrs. Stucker: Midwife.
- Meg: Rebecca's maid.
- James Fairchild: Rebecca's husband.
- John Wiltonson: Friend of Anna's late husband.
Quotes edit
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“I believe it is traditional in wagers between a woman and a man for the gentleman to ask for a favor from the lady.”
Edward to Anna when he'd told her to come up with a name for his dog. -
“Yes, and I know the proprietress, Aphrodite herself. I can get you a night or a week of nights at Aphrodite's Grotto. If that is your wish.”
Coral to Anna, in gratitude for Pearl's care.
Setting & Locations edit
England, 1760
- London: About a day's ride from Little Battleford. Edward maintained a townhouse there, and it was also where Aphrodite's Grotto was.
- Little Battleford: The town where Anna lived; where Ravenhill Abbey was located.
- Aprodite's Grotto: A bordello in London where those wishing it could have anything they wished, sexually.
- Ravehill Abbey: The estate in Little Battleford where Edward now lived. It had been empty for years after a pox epidemic.
First Sentence edit
The combination of a horse galloping far too fast, a muddy lane with a curve, and a lady pedestrian is never a good one.
Table of Contents edit
Prologue
Twenty-two numbered chapters
Epilogue
Chapter One of "The Leopard Prince"
"The Dish", where authors give you the inside scoop
From the desk of Elizabeth Hoyt
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1 of 4 in Princes Trilogy. (standard series)
Followed by The Leopard Prince.
This is book 23 of 100 in AAR Top 100 Romances 2007. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Dream Man, and followed by Paradise.
This is book 9 of 100 in AAR Top 100 Romances 2010. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Viscount Who Loved Me, and followed by The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Elizabeth Hoyt (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Warner
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 978-0739476253
Page Count: 374
Publisher: Warner
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 978-0739476253
Page Count: 374
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813
Subjects edit
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