Olivia Keene has had a most unusual upbringing, having been exhibited in local hostelries as a mathematical prodigy from an early age. One afternoon she returns from her job as a teacher at a local school to witness a scene of violence—and has to flee for her life. Later on, after a series of misadventures, she happens to overhear a secret, and after an accident has rendered her temporarily mute, is taken in by Lord Bradley as a servant. Under his watchful eye, even when she recovers her powers of speech she will be unable to divulge what she has heard. But just what is the truth?

If you enjoy Regencies but yearn to read something that is not only excellent but also nothing like Georgette Heyer, then look no further. More akin to Jane Eyre (Amazon US || UK) than Jane Austen, this book lifts the lid on what it must have been like to be a governess in those times. This is not a gothic novel, but there are plenty of secrets and mysteries to tantalize the reader and provide a perfect foil to the romance. Some prodigious research has been done to create a novel like this, and at first glance I thought that such a tubby tome (over 400 pages) was going to be long winded, but I was proved wrong. For there is a lot in here, and the book is written in such a way that it could have been written for 19th century readers without a single jarring modern note. I’m just off now to track down this author’s other two books. Very highly recommended and not just for romance readers.