Lady Elfled Malloren is a very stubborn woman. One day her four brothers are on the way and Elf decides she should do something wicked. She believes not only are her dresses boring but so is her life. So Elf asks her friend Lady Amanda to go to Vauxhall Gardens and have fun without a man to escort them.

Their adventure is very exciting in the beginning, but Elf wears a very conspicuous red dress and soon a few men begin to pester her. She flirts with them and when one becomes too amorous, she flees on a dark path. Here she overhears something about a conspiracy and when she can set free herself out of the undergrowth she runs in the arms of the man she has heard.

The Earl of Walgrave is Elfs brother-in-law but he hates all Malloren family members. Because Elf is dressed up he thinks he has caught a French woman with the name Lisette and takes her home with him.

What luck that Walgave didn't recognize that Lisette is actually Elf. So Elf plays her role and is looking for a good time to flee. She has heard Walgrave wants to kill the king and she wants to prevent that from happening.

Late in the night she is able to leave his house but because she's mad about the Earl she wants to rescue his life. So they all are soon in a great chaos because Walgrave is looking for a real conspirator. What will Walgrave do when he finds out who Lisette really is?

I really liked this Jo Beverley story because she has created two very unusal and funny characters. I am looking forward to reading another book of hers.

Something Wicked

Rated 4.0
ISBN# 0-451-40780-6
Copyright July 1997
Cost $5.99
Reviewed 7/18/97 by Ginger

Lady Elf Malloren is bored with her humdrum life. She envies her twin brother and his wife who seem to be off on one adventure after another. But, being the only girl with 4 brothers, it tends to be a little hard to "cut loose." When all of her brothers are away, she visits a friend and decides to try something a little different. Masquerading as a French woman, Elf journeys to the Vauxhall Gardens Masquerade. After fighting off an amorous soldier, she overhears talk of treason against the king! All frivolity aside, Elf attempts to get away without being seen. She soon finds out that one of the men is her twin brother's brother-in-law.

Fort Ware is a bitter, disillusioned man; especially when it comes to the entire Malloren family. When the beautiful French maid overhears damning information, he must take her back to his home to avoid suspicion. Fort ends up offering "Lisette" the position of mistress-which she declines.

There are some very sensual love scenes in this book. I wasn't totally thrilled with the last few chapters. After Fort discovers that Lisette (the woman he made wonderful love with and shared some deep secrets) is a Malloren, he distances himself from Elf. While Elf is deeply in love and trying to be with Fort. The way the author got them back together just seemed a little too easy after all they had been through.

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