The Vanishing Viscountess
Diane Gaston
Harlequin Historical, 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0373294794
ISBN-13: 978-0373294794
England, 1818
$5.99 U.S./$6.99 CAN.
Reviewed by Dorie
January 2008
Adam Vickery, the Marquess of Tannerton, or Tanner for short, is on a packet ship from Dublin back home to England. This is just after all that transpired in Innocence and Impropriety, and Tanner is feeling guilty about events that he couldn't stop and which caused lives to be lost. His eye is caught by a woman who is shackled and obviously a prisoner, in the company of a Bow Street Runner. He is struck by her dignity and bravery when a huge storm suddenly happens upon the ship and everyone is afraid for their lives. As the passengers are put on boats to safety, Tanner and the woman are the only ones left and realize they must try to survive as the ship is torn apart by the storm. They end up in the ocean and Tanner does everything to make sure that the woman survives, finally landing on shore, battered but alive.
Marlena Parronley, the Vanishing Viscountess, is blamed for a crime that she did not commit-the murder of her husband. Recently captured and resigned to her fate, she now finds herself free and hopes that she can go back to Scotland and hideaway. She does not want to give too much information about herself, worrying that any knowledge he has about her will implicate him in her offense. Luckily, Tanner can think of nothing but to help her and he is genuinely a good and kind man. Marlena makes up a story about stealing jewelry to go along with the false name she gives him, and Tanner offers to assist and escort her along the way.
Marlena and Adam form a bond as they make their way on their journey. Marlena had had a crush on him when she was younger and had even danced with him once at a ball, but it was long ago and he didn't remember. She never thought to meet him in such circumstances and can't help but be charmed by him and he by her. Adam falls utterly for Marlena, so much so that he doesn't even care what she has done, as long as he is with her. Their relationship grows stronger, though the lies that Marlena must tell in order to keep Adam safe, threaten to drive them apart.
Those who have read INNOCENCE AND INPROPRIETY will remember Tanner for the affable Viscount enamored of Rose O'Keefe, the beautiful singer. In THE VANISHING VISCOUNTESS, he is much the same, though weary and feeling that he has a somewhat useless existence. Upon meeting Marlena, she instills in him a purpose and appetite for life that he never felt before. Diane's writing and characters flow beautifully. I like how she did not make the villains one dimensional, but gave them reasons behind their actions and let us know that they were capable of feeling emotions, such as love. I also enjoyed the little love story between two secondary characters.
Overall, THE VANISHING VISCOUNTESS was a wonderful read. Not your typical Regency romance, but with all the substance, wit and romance that I've come to expect from Diane Gaston.