Even though the type of romance between Judith Davenport and Marcus Devlin, the Marquis of Carrington is not my favorite, I still found VIRTUE to be an alluring and compelling novel. Marcus first encounters Judith and her brother Sebastian in a gaming hell in Brussels as he notices how they work as a team to cheat others in card games. Marcus was even more outraged as his cousin Charles, was one of their victims---but a happy victim, at that, due to all of the attention Charles received from the beautiful Judith. After confronting Judith, Marcus quickly finds that what first began as anger, quickly turns into intrigue, and then an obsession. Judith has the same kind of reaction to him. Marcus and Judith’s paths become seared to one another after one night of passion, and inevitable consequences. However, neither of them really knew anything about each other, and what odds can be riskier than the venture of love? The reason this TYPE of romance is not my favorite is because of the hard “growing pains” that occur within the relationship, as both hold deeply guarded secrets. Judith and her brother Sebastian hold close to their breast the secret of revenge as they plan to avenge the ruin of their father from the Earl of Gracemere. Marcus also nurses secrets that he is set on hiding from Judith. So herein lies the problem: when you have to put so much effort into hiding a secret those secrets become covered by layers of lies and soon the relationship feels like a house of cards. Yet, don’t untold secrets create the best kind of stories??? And let me tell you, Jane Feather really knows how to tell a story! In this novel, the villains and protagonists are very closely connected, and the unfolding of this connection is what makes this story so interesting. All of the characters spin dangerous games with one another and the risks always feel high. This plot continually seems to take the reader close to a precipice, and right when you think everything is going to fall apart for the protagonists, it just ends up working out in the nick of time! Both leads are very independent and strong-willed and I was happy to see them find their HEA. Marcus affectionately refers to Judith as “Lynx,” and I thought that term of endearment was cute. Despite flaring temperaments and wills, both leads form a love for each other that they both know is beyond reason. I really liked how Marcus supported Judith, even during the more stressful moments in their relationship and surprising revelations. 4 Stars for a well-written novel!
Reread from many years ago. Mind candy, mental escapism!The is the first of the V romances.Jane Feather's V series romances stand out from those of other authors in that many of her works address social problems in Regency England. The heroine and her brother are involved in a revenge plot against the Earl of Gracemere who cheated their father out of his land and holdings and caused him to flee to Europe with his small children. The relationship between the hero and the heroine begins with an encounter in a gambling den. Judith and Sebastian Davenport have lived in Europe from a very young age as their father fled England with them due to a great scandal. They meet the Marquis of Carrington in Brussels on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. Devlin, the marquis, believes that the two are cheating and calls Judith out. She denies his accusations but the truth of her background of traveling around Europe with no visible means of support invalidates her denial. The marquis heads for the forming battle lines runs into Judith who has stolen a horse and cart to carry her to the battle. They unite and secure a room at an inn in Quatre Bras, the site of the upcoming battle. Then the maquis discovers that Judith (whom he calls Lynx) is a virgin. Despite her questionable character, he is of the opinion that he has only one option. As he sits in the common room at the inn, that becomes more certain as Judith walks in and finds the marquis with a few companions. This circumstance requires the marquis to offer for Judith's hand. With mixed emotions, Judith agrees. While the marquis follows the battle, Judith joins a medical group caring for the wounded soldiers. Finally, at the close of the battle, Devin finds a country priest, who performs a marriage ceremony in front of the military minds surrounding Wellington.Soon after the couple and her brother Sebastian, return to England. Judith and Sebastian have devised a plot of revenge against Lord Gracemere . The connection to the Marquis of Carrington ensures their entree into London society where they continue to pursue their revenge while running into more than a few complications due to the marriage between Judith and Devlin.
