not producing the happy result expected.

Of course, romance readers will not be surprised by this.

Bemused, courted by a gentleman her family approves of, she first tries to convince Strathairn they're perfectly suited. However, she is no femme fatale and he is nobly determined. Sibella reluctantly accepts his decision and convinces herself it's better to accept the offer she has rather than waiting for an offer that will never come. Strathairn applauds her decision, even goes so far as to encourage Sibella to put aside doubts about her fiancé.

This story could have devolved in to a farce, or worse, angst ridden depression. Instead, it stayed the course; the characters developed well-enough to carry the tale.

Strathairn had valid reasons to deny himself wife and hearth. Besides facing his partner's widow,he had firsthand experience of how loved ones could be used as sources of information and pawns of revenge. Suffering from survivor's guilt, his rest was seldom undisturbed. He was haunted by the loss of comrades that received no recognition for their sacrifice, just as he has and will not. Strathairn was not able to be anyone's perfect anything while performing perfectly for his King and Country.

I admired his recognition of what was inevitable even as I wanted to whisper in his ear, maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. Wisely, he ignored me, demonstrating his depth of care for Sibella that went beyond what he wanted for the moment to what he wanted for her. His reasoning sold him as both an agent of the crown