Celeste Bradley, One Night with a Spy

One Night with a Spy

Celeste Bradley

St. Martin's Apr 2006, $6.99, 352 pp.

ISBN: 0312939663

In 1810, twenty year old Lady Julia Barrowby is despondent when her beloved spouse septuagenarian Aldus collapses, as she owes her life to him and his protection. She insures his time over the next few years is comfortable.

In 1813, Aldus dies, but to the chagrin of his Royal Four mates, he as the Fox never trained an apprentice to become the Fox. Cobra, Lion, and Falcon and the Prime Minister travel to Barrowby concerned, as the Royal Four has always been there to protect England from outside agents. At Barrowby, the widow Julia claims she is the Fox, and has been for over three years. The Lion's prot g Marcus Ramsay is sent undercover to learn the truth. Marcus, expecting a gold-digger, reads her secret diary and decides to use her desires against her. Instead he finds himself falling in love with the "Vixen", who he realizes is better as the clever Fox than he is, while an enemy of the state from her past plans to take advantage of a mere female.

The third book in the Royal Four series (see SURRENDER TO A WICKED SPY and TO WED A SCANDALOUS SPY) is a terrific gender bending entry starring a strong woman who believes her deeds prove a female can be a contributing member. The key to this fine Regency romantic suspense is the change in Marcus; initially he assumes that his female rival is cotton candy of an old man, but as he falls in love, he begins to realize Julia is better at the job than he is, and not only wants to be her spouse and lover, but also her student. Readers will enjoy this strong entry in an exhilarating series with the climax to come.