Review: Nice story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 11, 2014
This was a pretty good story.  Our hero sees the heroine at a ball.  Fellows are swamping her with attention because she is not only beautiful, she is truly a sweet person.  The hero decides he will seek an introduction at the next ball and dance with her.  He is concerned that he finds her so attractive.  He is young and not ready to form any attachment.  But our hero learns that right after that evening, the young woman's father gave her hand to an old man and forced her into the marriage.  She had made an attempt to escape but was hauled back.From that time on, the hero tries to help young women trapped in an abusive marriage or being forced into an unwanted marriage.  He had joined the military and upon his return has just skated on the edge of propriety in society.  The ton views him as a rake.  But he has never forgotten the woman who set things in motion.Our heroine is now a widow and lives alone except for a few servants.  Her marriage allowed her to help her brother and sister, but gave her little happiness.  Her sister comes to visit, but the heroine clearly sees the sister is having marital problems.The hero arrives in the area to escape a scandal in town and finds the heroine once again.  He first plans to seduce her, then as he comes to know her better, he thinks he might want her as a mistress.  The story moves along with his finally understanding he has fallen in love with her.  The heroine doesn't know what love feels like.  She desires the hero to be sure, but wonders if that is actually love.The sister causes problems.  She throws herself at the hero constantly -- going so far as to sneak into his bed.This was a nice story.  The Valentine tie being the heroine's birthday, though that wasn't important to the story.  This was a good afternoon read.