
Margaret Watkins
On the cusp of a new era, Lord Crispin D'Aubignon is one of the few noblemen who realizes that the future no longer lies in land and holdings, but in technology and new inventions. Drawn to the railroad being built, he is surprised to find an attractive young woman in the railway engineer's office. He is even more surprised when he finds her in a ton ballroom and that she is the heiress that his demanding father tells him to court. Neither Crispin nor Marcella are interested in marriage as they have different goals and ambitions, but ultimately they make a bargain, one which should keep everyone happy. Unfortunately, whilst times are changing, attitudes are not, and Marcella experiences the harsh reality of being an outsider in the rarified atmosphere of the aristocracy. I enjoyed the build-up of the romance between Crispin and Marcella and felt for her as she had to face the slings and arrows of society. This romance is well written with the interesting background of new developments taking place and kept my interest throughout. I received a copy of this entertaining novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.