Slightly Sinful

Lord Alleyne Bedwyn is carrying a letter from the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo when he is shot in the leg, despite trying to continue his journey he becomes weak from loss of blood and falls off his horse, hitting his head on a tree stump. Alleyne is found by Miss Rachel York, an orphan fallen on hard times who is currently sharing a house in Brussels with a group of prostitutes, including her former nurse. Rachel and the other women have lost all their money to a confidence trickster and have resolved to search the dead bodies for money and treasures, although in reality they are all far too soft-hearted and end up rescuing Alleyne, who they find unconscious, together with a one-eyed Sargeant who helps carry Alleyne to safety. When Alleyne recovers consciousness he has no recollection of his name or who he is, but he falls in love with Rachel, thinking her to be a prostitute. Alleyne knows he can't marry Rachel not least because he doesn't know if he is already married, but he agrees to pretend to be her husband in order for her to inherit her grandmother's jewellery, which is in her uncle's possession until she is 25 years old or married to a man that her uncle approves. Imagine if you will, four prostitutes masquerading as widows and maiden aunts, a one-eyed Sargeant trying to forge a second career as a valet, and a man with no recollection of his true identity descending upon a stately home to fool the owner. This wasn't quite a comedy caper but it came close. As always, Mary Balogh has created a group of characters with depth and charm, a glorious romance and plenty of humour.