The Marriage Bargain
By Diane Perkins
Warner Forever,
October 2005,
ISBN 0-446-61438-6
Seventeen year-old Emma Chambers readily agreed to marry the handsome, uniformed Spencer Keenan, rather than his elderly uncle, Zachary Keenan, a Member of Parliament who was old enough to be her father. Marriage to Spence was a marriage bargain: she would stay at his country estate, Kellworth, and have the protection of being his wife, while he was free to go off to war and pursue his dream of adventure.
Little did Emma anticipate that her dashing husband's promise meant that she would have to use her own funds, or breed pigs, just to keep the estate running and care for the few servants she wasn't forced to pension off. Her only solace comes from the visits of Spence's cousin, the Reverend Rueben Keenan, who carries her pleading missives to Spence for help. Even the reverend agrees that Spence's lack of response is dreadful.
Spence returns to London years later with his two boyhood friends from Eton, Viscount Theobold Blakewell, aka Blake, and Gideon Wolfe. Together they formed The Ternion, friends sworn for life to protect one another. When Spence is accused of cheating at cards by a young gambler, Blake and Wolfe serve as his seconds. Though Spence is determined not to hurt the young man and suffer the consequences of being forced to leave England for fighting an unlawful duel, the gambler shoots Spence in his chest.
Blake and Wolfe deliver Spence's body to his Kellworth estate for burial. Emma, distraught by his death, insists on seeing the body. How else can she be assured that her husband lies within the hastily made coffin? That another body has been placed there instead? When she touches his face, all those present at the entombment are shocked when Spence grasps her hand and asks for water.
Emma cares for her husband during the following days and, once awake, Spence can't believe how beautiful she has become. During his slow recovery, an inner war rages.
Spence is forced to face memories he'd rather forget: Of the fateful day he was responsible for his older brother's death. Emma feels Spence purposely refused to answer her pleas for help, despite his protest that he never received her missives, and believes she cannot trust his word. She demands payback for him reneging on their original bargain: she wants him to give her a baby.
One day, while driving Emma in the carriage, they have an accident near where Spence's brother died. Reminded that he killed his brother and now nearly killed Emma, he departs for London, determined to keep her safe through his absence. Emma won't have it and follows him - determined that he will keep his part of their bargain.
Diane Perkins has written a marvelous, suspense-filled novel in The Marriage Bargain, a novel filled with all fully developed characters whose emotional struggles will touch your heart, as surely as the suspense will keep you turning the pages. Once again she has proven herself to be a masterful storyteller, and I can't wait for her next release!
Linda Morelli
GWN Historical Editor
visit her website today!
Author of FIERY SURRENDER and SHADOW OF DOUBT
Now available, LANI'S CHALLENGE, from
Port Town Publishing
