A Fine Passion

By Stephanie Laurens

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Average Rating: (See all reviews) Format: Paperback, 448 pages Published In: United States, September 2005 Other Editions: Paperback, USA $14.99 View 24 hour shipping "New York Times" bestselling superstar Laurens leads readers through the gates of the Bastion Club for another sensuous tale. The last of his noble line, Baron Warnefleet comes home to intrigue and peril, and to the only woman in England who can set his hidden passions free. Original. From The Publisher: The men of the Bastion Club are powerful, loyal, and not averse to overcoming danger if they must. Now, after years of loyal service to the Crown, they each -- one by one -- must face that greatest danger of all ...love. The last of his line, Jack, Baron Warnefleet, has fled London after nearly being compromised into marrying a dreadful female. Turning his back on the entire notion of marriage, he rides home to the estate he has not seen for years, determined to set in motion an alternative course of action. But then in the lane before his gate, Jack rescues a startlingly beautiful lady from a menacing, unmanageable horse. However, while he begins by taking command, the lady continues by taking it back. Lady Clarice Altwood is no meek and mild miss. She is the very antithesis of the woolly-headed young ladies Jack has rejected as not for him. Clarice is delectably attractive, beyond eligible, undeniably capable, and completely unforgettable. Why on earth is she rusticating in the country? That enigma is compounded by mystery, and it's quickly clear that Clarice is in danger. Jack must use every ounce of his cunning and wit to protect this highly independent and richly passionate woman ... who has so quickly stolen his heart. Publisher: Avon Books ISBN: 0060593318 EAN: 9780060593315 Dimensions: 17.37 x 10.72 x 3.18 centimetres (0.21 kg)

Lady clarice is strong minded, un virginal, and she wants nothing of marriage. exactly pefect for Jack warnefleet, or so he thinks. However, he soon finds that while he wished her for a mistress, and she wishes only to be a mistress, he feels stronger passions where the lady is concerned - and they prompt him, if not her, to marriage.

"When Baron Jack Warnefleet returns from the war after many years, he is first greeted by beautiful Lady Clarice who is trying to help a man who was run off the road by another carriage. Jack is fascinated by Clarice, especially when he learns she has been using her noble birth to take over his duties while he was gone.

Jack and Clarice are instantly attracted to each other. Neither want marriage at the time, and they agree to become lovers with no long term committment. After Jack takes Clarice's virginity, things change and he decides he wants her for his wife.

Clarice's cousin James, whom she has been staying with, is warned by the man Jack and Clarice helped that he is under investigation for selling secrets to France during the war. Jack and Clarice travel to London so Jack can get his fellow spies to help and Clarice can get the family who shunned her to rally behind James. To her surprise, most of the family welcomes her and asks her to help rid them of her evil stepmother Moira.

When it becomes clear that James is innocent and Clarice has sufficiently knocked Moira from her social perch, Clarice and Jack are both attacked by men working for the real traitor and for Moira. They survive, and Clarice and Jack realize they love each other and should finally marry."
Rachael High, Resident Scholar