The Spinster's Stolen Heart, Willenshires, Pippa's Story by Dorothy Sheldon

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

High Stakes, Low Morals, and One Very Long Flight of Stairs

Pippa’s mother insists on a match with a Marquis whose cruelty is surpassed only by his lack of charm. Pippa refuses. Enter Nate, a wealthy gentleman who offers affection rather than ancestral bragging rights. The conflict peaks when an argument turns physical; Pippa’s mother pushes her daughter down the stairs, leaving her unconscious and the reader wondering if a daughter's dowry is worth a life.

While Pippa remains senseless, the Marquis drops the facade. He interrogates her cousin, William, about the finances. Upon learning the gold isn't guaranteed, he retreats to find easier prey. Nate, meanwhile, proves his mettle by haunting the sickroom three or four times a day, seeking any sign of recovery.

The staircase tumble provides the only genuine spark in a story populated by a mother who values the Peerage over a conscience. Pippa deserves better than her kin, and fortunately, she finds it in a man who needs no lofty prefix to prove his worth. I remain firmly on Pippa's team.