Book request: Read this one around 1980, give or take 4 years. It was a short novel, of the kind that were published in multiples each month - think Harlequin, tho I don't think this was by Harlequin.Typical in many ways, tho if I recall correctly the hero & heroine were more interesting than gorgeous, both clever, and at most "well bred" rather than the usual dukes and earls and counts, oh my. The time frame is either 17th or 18th century, post-Renaissance and pre-Regency. I think it took place on several different continental locations, and yes, there was an outbreak of plague in either France or Italy, I believe - I have a very distinct recollection of the hero burying plague victims. Charming right? I wish I could recall more, but I've wracked my brain and that's all that's left. Is it familiar to anyone?

Matching book description: By leaving England, plain and impoverished spinster Emma Forbes hopes to leave behind the pain of losing both her inheritance and her fiance... She gets a position of governess/English teacher to the wards of Ignace, a cold harsh featured french nobleman living in Arles in about the 1750s. He is bitter and cynical, and sardonically amused by her schoolgirl level French.But By leaving England, plain and impoverished spinster Emma Forbes hopes to leave behind the pain of losing both her inheritance and her fiance... She gets a position of governess/English teacher to the wards of Ignace, a cold harsh featured french nobleman living in Arles in about the 1750s. He is bitter and cynical, and sardonically amused by her schoolgirl level French.But then the Plague, the Black Death comes to the little walled town... ...more