Dark Angel

Dark Angel (1994) Tracy Grant

Set in Europe in 1813

Adam Durward was sent to England to live with his aunt when both of his parents were killed in India. Always an outsider, he still fell in love with the girl next door–Caroline.

“You look like no Englishman,” he said. Adam stifled a groan. No, he did not look English and it had haunted him all his life.

Caroline had not understood why he chose instead to go to India as private secretary to a private citizen of scholarly bent who could offer him no hope of riches or advancement. “The Company don’t employ men of mixed blood,” her father had told her, and those few harsh words had shattered her view of a world that was rational and kind.

“Was it hard for her, being married to an Englishman?”

Adam knew what she was asking. “The English accepted her readily enough. In those days there were many families like ours. It was only later, when more English women came to India, that it became a stigma to have mixed blood.

Caroline married Jared Rawley because his wealth and connections should have made her life easier. But after Jared’s disgrace, Caroline ends up in Spain, caught between the English and French armies.

“Most of the cannon blew up in their gunners’ faces,” Adam said slowly, spelling it out for her. “How many deaths do you think that caused, Caro? We were fighting the French. These were English deaths.”

This story does not shy from the dangers and ravages of war.

The country was wild and beautiful. As they neared the River Tagus they came upon vineyards and olive trees and groves of oranges, their golden fruit giving promise of sun and plenty. But the ravages of war remained. Houses stood in ruin and village squares were overrun with weeds.

I do like Emily, Caroline’s daughter, in this story, since she is very much a child, yet her own character.

“Elena’s going to make me look like a lady,” Emily said. “Then we can play marbles.”

Emily took a sandwich to Wilkins and then asked her mother for two more to feed the horses.

It’s a very good story, with mystery and romance and all kinds of excitement, and a good distraction when I don’t know what I want to read.

Publisher: NYLA
Rating: 8.5/10

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