Henrietta Upperton's betrothed, Alexander Sanford, ran off to India in order to restore his family's fortunes following his father's untimely death. She never imagined that eight years would pass before he returned—now a widower with two young daughters in tow. Very little is as Alexander remembers when his ship washes ashore near his aunt's home, where Henrietta serves as companion. For one, his relationships with his two childhood best friends run from strained to hostile, and, more apparently, Henrietta, with her propensity to speak her mind and use swear words, bears little resemblance to the meek girl Alexander had once promised to wed and subsequently abandoned. Alexander is hopeful that he can still honor his promise to Henrietta, but before he can get down to the business of convincing her that he is worth a second chance, he will have to ensure her safety and that of his family by rooting out the trouble that seems to have followed him from India.
VERDICT Henrietta and Alexander's story is a lukewarm introduction to the "Eton Boys Trilogy," with only the merest thread hinting at a connection to future installments. Some readers may be interested to discover how the childhood friendships grew to be so tense, but this reviewer hopes that Macnamara (A Most Scandalous Proposal) is able to carve out a bit more excitement in the process.
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