A Woman of Virtue
Grade : A-

Want something rich? You can go out and buy a couple of pounds of Godiva chocolate, you can splurge on a new car, you can hook up with Donald Trump (on second thought, forget that), or if like me, you are counting your pennies, you can buy A Woman of Virtue and have a richly rewarding reading experience. A Woman of Virtue is not utter perfection, but a chocolate truffle slightly misshapen still tastes delicious.

A Woman of Virtue is a loose sequel to Liz Carlyle's A Woman Scorned but it is not necessary to have read it in order to understand this book.

David, Lord Delacourt from A Woman Scorned is the hero of this book. At first sight, he is a disgusting man - foxed, obnoxious and trying to force himself on a young woman he came across in a stable at the races. The young woman turns out to be Cecilia Markham-Sands a sister of one of David's companions, and since he has compromised her, Society's rules say they must marry. David is sullen but willing, but Cecilia is adamant that she will not marry David - propriety be damned. The Rev. Cole Amherst (hero from A Woman Scorned) comes up with a solution that will satisfy the social rules. They will announce their engagement and Cecilia will cry off. Since everyone knows David's rakehell behavior, Cecilia will not lose her reputation. But during the time of the false engagement, Cole sees that care-for-no-one David feels something for Cecilia.

Cecila eventually marries the elderly Lord Walrafen and is soon widowed. As a titled widow, she is a woman of independence and occupies her time by working in the Daughters of Nazareth Society, a shelter founded by Cole Amherst for the purpose of giving prostitutes skills to pursue a better life. Since Cole knows David has feelings for Cecilia, he makes a wager on cards, cheats, and David has to work at the shelter while Cole takes his wife Jonet to the country for a vacation.

David is unaware that Cecilia works in the shelter and when they meet, given their past history, their reaction is one of mututal loathing. But when he works at the shelter, he is introduced to a life that he never knew could be so degrading and he and Cecilia set aside their antipathy to join forces - you see, several of the women have been murdered.

The murders introduce a new character, Constable de Rohan of the Thames Water Police. De Rohan is compelling - he has a passion for his work and is simmering with anger over injustice. He is not truly a major character, but he is a compelling minor one and Carlyle promises us he will return. And speaking of minor characters, I have to mention David's valet, Kemble, before whose tart tongue, Beau Brummell himself would shiver.

The mystery is interesting, but it is the relationship between David and Cecilia that is so compelling. They are both strong-willed and passionate, David especially. He is the way he is - an ultra-rake filled with self-loathing and feelings of inadequacy - because of the circumstances of his birth. I have seldom seen a character who needs love so much and who feels so unworthy of it.

Cecilia too is a passionate woman and inherently a fair one. When she realizes the worth of David, and gives in to her own passionate nature, the heat between the two of them is beyond belief. I have read romances where there are love scenes after love scenes yet the book was tepid at best. This book is incendiary.

A Woman of Virtue is written in Liz Carlyle's distinct style, leisurely and filled with description. This style fits the serious, passionate tone of the book perfectly. Yet it is not without humor, much of it supplied by Kemble and by Cecilia's tart and outspoken maid, the former prostitute Etta.

A Woman of Virtue is the first DIK historical romance I have read this year. I was torn between wanting to read it fast or savoring it slowly. I ended up doing the latter, but however you may want to read it, by all means read it. It is a richly fulfilling reading experience.

Buy it at A/iB/BN/K

Reviewed by Ellen Micheletti
Grade : A-

Sensuality: Hot

Review Date : February 8, 2001

Publication Date: 2001

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Ellen Micheletti

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