Tempting Fate

Tempting Fate (2009) Alissa Johnson (Providence)

Set in England in 1813.

Miss Mirabelle Browning has spent most of her time since her parents died with the Coles, the neighbor of her uncle where she was sent to live. The Coles have been a refuge for her, even if she spends much of her time bickering with Whittaker Cole, Earl of Thurston.

Some said it all began when a young Mirabelle caused the slightly older Whit to fall headfirst out of a rowboat in front of the lovely Miss Wilheim, who promptly slipped and fell overboard herself, putting an end to their brief but dramatic romance. Others maintained that the whole business had started when a mischievous Whit had put a large bug down the back of Mirabelle’s dress during a musicale, causing the girl to jump, scream, swat madly, and otherwise endanger the people around her.

Still others insisted they really had no care for when or how it had all begun, merely that they wished it to end. Immediately, if not sooner. Everyone, however, was in accord over the fact that the two, quite simply, did not get on.

Like his cousin Alec, Whit occasionally works for the War Department, and when William Fletcher asks him to look into Mira’s uncle–and to help keep Mira safe during her mandatory visit to her uncle–Whit readily agrees.

according to the terms set out in her parents’ will, Mirabelle’s guardian received a yearly stipend of three hundred pounds, until she reached the age of seven-and-twenty, provided she spent a minimum of six weeks every year under his roof. Mirabelle assumed it was a precaution taken to ensure she wasn’t simply shipped off to the poorhouse.

Mira is not to sanguine, since she doesn’t want anyone in the Cole family to see how things are at her uncle’s house.

Like the previous book, the set up is silly–and utterly delightful, as are all the characters.

In the manner of men who have limited experience with expectant mothers, he was exceedingly careful to keep his gaze on her face, or over her shoulder, or anywhere other than the obvious mound under her dress.

Whit had never considered himself a coward. There were, however, a whole list of terrifying things a man could— and should, really— be able to go his entire life without witnessing. And the women of his family throwing daggers was most decidedly one of those things.
…
“As for the rest of you . . .” Whit turned to Alex, steadfastly ignoring the amused glint in his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re allowing this.”

“I can’t believe you expect me to argue with a group of armed women,” Alex countered.

But what I also love is that the story doesn’t shy away from the truths of the time period.

“Aside from poverty, oppression, and injustice, there is no matter too insignificant for the ton not to notice.”

(B)irthing was a dangerous, and terrifyingly female, event. He had some clear memories of his sister’s birth— memories he contrived very hard not to dwell on.

Like the previous book, this is a delight and highly recommending

Publisher: Stonesong Digital
8/10

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