Like A DIFFICULT TRUCE (full of Anglo-Irish relations at the turn of the century), this book is filled with the Venezuelan war for liberation - later to become a South American war for liberation under Simon Bolivar. Margarita, the heroine, is a cousin of Bolivar, and nearly all her family perish in the struggle. Furthermore, the fate of her country and her people are constantly in Margarita's thoughts.

Nicholas Beauchamp, the Earl of Winslow, was baffled by Margarita'sinfernally inconvenient anger. True, he still visited his mistress,Catherine Alnwick, whenever his fancy dictated. True, he still availedhimself of the fabled favors of the ravishing Lady Eleanor Rushton, whocertainly never let her marriage vows interfere with her pleasures. Butsurely Margarita should be able to see that as his wife she stillpossessed the best part of him, and be satisfied with the bargain.Unfortunately, Margarita had so very much to learn about the ways of theworld -- and even more to teach the imperious Earl about the secrets ofthe heart... She was the luckiest young lady in England, and the mostunhappy. When a marriage of convenience made Margarita the wife ofNicholas Beauchamp, she was the envy of every beauty in the realm. Herbridegroom was both incredibly handsome and the lord of one of England'smost splendid estates. In addition, his many females conquests made nosecret of his skill as a lover. In short, this marvelous man offeredMargarita everything a woman could want -- except the one thing thatonly an innocent as foolish as she would even dreaming of asking for.The one thing that Nicholas Beauchamp refused to grant any woman -- hisown true love...