What a Lady Most Desires by Lecia Cornwall

What a Lady Most Desires by Lecia Cornwall
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

True desire always finds a way…

On the night before the final battle against Napoleon, Lady Delphine St. James finds herself dancing with the one man she has always wanted, Major Lord Stephen Ives. He makes it clear he has no time for a lady he sees as flirtatious and silly, but as the call to arms sounds, she bids him farewell with a kiss that stirs them both. When he returns gravely injured, she is intent on caring for him, even if his surly behavior tests her patience.
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After the battle, Stephen is not only wounded and blind, but falsely accused of cowardice and theft. The only light in his dark world is Delphine, the one woman he never imagined he could desire. But she deserves more than he can give her.

As their feelings deepen and hidden enemies conspire to force them to part forever, can their love survive the cruelest test of all?

Lady Delphine St. James is beautiful, witty and charming. Her politically active father shamelessly uses her to further his own agenda by encouraging her to flirt and flatter his cronies, to sway them to his way of thinking. Her mother’s only desire is to have her make an advantageous marriage. Delphine has had two seasons, and the flirtatious puppet she has become is second nature to her now. Until one night, she encounters Major Lord Stephen Ives. They are instantly attracted to one another. He cares for her opinions and they have a real conversation. Then Delphine’s mother comes to take her away, telling her she must go and charm a duke. When Stephen sees her playing her flirtatious game, he’s convinced that he was wrong about her, and that she really is shallow. Thereafter, he avoids her when he can, and otherwise is just remotely polite. Delphine was truly affected by their meeting, and it made her take a look at herself and her life. Although she lost Stephen’s regard, she’s determined now to do better things.

A year later, Delphine is in Brussels with her sister and brother-in-law, ready to come to the aid of wounded soldiers, if need be. She encounters Stephen, who is just about to leave for battle. She sends him off with a flower and a kiss. Stephen is seriously wounded and is sent to recover with their mutual friend Nicholas Temberlay and his wife. Determined to take care of him, Delphine manages to arrange it so she is at the household at the same time. We soon find out that Stephen has been blinded, and that he has an enemy who is setting him up to be branded a thief and a coward.

Someone being falsely accused is something that always pushes my buttons. We know who the villain is right from the get go, so there’s not a mystery. But he weaves a clever plan, and at times it doesn’t look like there’s any hope. It’s particularly nasty because of the awful shape our poor hero is in. Stephen is strong, though, and begins to recover. This part of the story deals with Delphine caring for him, and their becoming very close. I like both these characters, even with their flaws. I found Delphine to be compassionate and kind underneath her social mask. But I was disappointed that as soon as she returned home, she fell right back into the same pattern. Stephen, while an admirable man, waffled a lot when it came to Delphine. He wanted her, then he pushed her away.

This is my first book by Lecia Cornwall, and I like her writing style very much. I felt the sense of urgency in the story that the villain may never be found out. I also felt the dread that our couple was never going to manage to be together. The way everything was resolved was very satisfactory, and I found myself breathing a big sigh of relief. I recommend this book for all lovers of historical romance, and I know I’ll be looking for more from this author.