Dunstan Hay, Earl of Erroll, becomes fascinated with a mysteriously veiled lady while visiting Tunbridge Wells. Behind the veil, he finds Lady Melody Bainbridge, a woman beaten and bruised by a husband she is seeking legal separation from. Melody is intrigued by the well-spoken and gentle manner with which Dunstan treats her. Dunstan, a confirmed bachelor, begins to lose his objections to attaching himself permanently to a female at the same time as he begins losing his heart to the courageous young lady. However, Melody's brutal husband is not totally out of the picture. He continues to torment Melody and tries to force money out of Dunstan by filing a countersuit against Melody for adultery. To free the woman he loves of such an evil being, Dunstan is willing to do almost anything. Will he be successful in removing Melody from such twisted clutches? Will Melody ever be free to marry the man she has come to love? This was a fabulous book, well worth reading. Ms. Fairchild twists the heart of the reader as she makes one realize the difficulty abused women had in obtaining legal separation from their abusers during the 19th century. Ms. Fairchild does an excellent job of showing the parallel lives of Melody and Queen Charlotte. Ms. Fairchild has a wonderful way of making history come alive in her writing and did an outstanding job of presenting the historical detail of the period. I very much recommend this book to those who love the regency period.A wonderful read and a fine example of regency writing! Elisabeth Fairchild tugs at the heart strings and delivers a fabulous symphony of romance! A stirring tale of love, tragedy, and optimism triumphing over adversity!Gloria Lower -- Copyright 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved Ingram Embroiled in a desperate divorce, a gorgeous lady finds she cannot resist the stares of a comely young gardener. But what she doesn't know is that he is actually an earl from the Scottish highlands. Suddenly romance blooms between two who had sworn off happiness, only to plunge heart first into love!