The Absent Wife [Hardcover]

Sometimes love at first sight happens, but it appears to be between the wrong two people. Frequently, one of them isn't free to love at all. Sometimes there are other barriers to be overcome, but if the love is real and true, it will win out in the end.

With her first glance at Lord James Atherton, Roslyn Meredith was enchanted. He was breath-takingly handsome but didn't appear to be above himself. It came as a shock when she learned he was married to the heartless Vanessa, who was nowhere to be found. Or perhaps she was off somewhere with her lover.

Roslyn's uncle Owen, the renowned portrait artist, had painted the Athertons shortly after their marriage, but that was before Roslyn had been orphaned and sent to live with him. Now, uncle and niece were befriended by Lord and Lady Elgin, and sent to Greece to accompany more of the rescued treasures (Elgin's Marbles) back to England. To Roslyn's surprise, Lord Byron was also one of the party. For some reason, he suspected Roslyn's attachment to Lord James, no matter how much she protested.

Greece is idyllic in the spring, and the time Roslyn and Owen spend there is unlike anything either of them could have imagined, until they went off to Ayios Georghios, and encounted a surly, sullen Lord James. When he nearly runs over Roslyn during a wild ride downhill, he suddenly seems to wake up to his surroundings--and the beautiful young woman to whom he's previously paid no attention.

How could they not fall in love? It's not a happy situation for any of them, and when they all return to England, their lives are further complicated by the sudden re-appearance of Vanessa and her lover, Benedict Courtenay. It takes some clever plotting on the part of Sir James and his devoted aunt, Lady Gallermayne to find a happy ending for James and Roslyn. It's not so happy for Vanessa and Benedict, who surely didn't deserve one, anyway.

As usual in this books of Sandra Heath, the story could not have taken place at any other time or place than those described. Everything fits so well together, you are right there with the characters, seeing what they see, experiencing what they experience. Reading this book was almost as good as a travelogue, only better in some ways, because of the marvelous writing and the happy-ever-after ending! Scrumptious!