Part of La Comédie Humaine, book 2
First published 2004
Emilie de Fontaine turns away every man her father brings before her. This proud young woman demands nothing less than a peer of France for a husband. She would rather remain unmarried than settle for anyone beneath her station. At a glittering ball, she encounters the captivating Maximilian. Romance blooms between them as they dance and talk through the evening. Emilie believes she has found her perfect match at last. Maximilian seems to possess everything she desires in a husband. Their courtship progresses with mutual affection and growing attachment. Then Emilie uncovers something about Maximilian that he has kept hidden from her. This revelation threatens to destroy everything she thought she knew about the man she loves. The discovery forces Emilie to confront her own prejudices and examine what truly matters in love and marriage.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: class-divide, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: Sceaux
Period: 19th-century
56 pages · Paperback · Kessinger Publishing, LLC