Anyone who's a fan of old movies may get a suspicion that this book was inspired by "Daddy Long Legs", although thankfully, the H is not an aging Fred Astaire paired with the much too young Leslie Caron. Here, the h, Royal Bradford, is only 11 years younger than her guardian, Damon Routhland, and though at the start of the book she's a mere 14, when the romance begins, she's 19 to his 30, so that's not so bad.

The novel takes place during my fav time period, the American Revolution, which already puts a book in my favor, but the story was also a good one, though a b it slow moving at first. After the death of Royal's father, the Savannah born girl is sent to school in London, and much time is spent during her period of adjustment, which is far from smooth. She's one of the social outcasts, due to her "common" background, the two friends she has soon leave, and for a time the other girls make her life miserable. Borrowing a page from "Heidi", a bitter wheelchair bound girl, Lady Alissa Seton, of high social standing, goes from Royal's enemy to best friend, after Royal rescues her from a mishap and then helps her learn to walk again.

Several years pass (a bit too slowly) and Royal gets a taste of London social life, though she's subdued and never really fits in, and doesn't let her good looks and compliments go to her head. (No flirting games for this girl.) She daydreams about both her handsome guardian (who only keeps i touch through letters he makes his accountant write) and Alissa's charming brother, Lord Preston. At first, she's just his younger sister's friend, but after a few years he finds himself falling for the lovely young woman she's become. However, he's part of British society, with all its strict class distinctions, and Royal's not whom his family has in mind for him.

Despite her colonial roots, Royal finds herself sympathizing with the British and agreeing with popular opinion about the ungrateful, rebellious colonies. She also gets disillusioned about her glamorous Aunt Arabella, a self-centered actress who lived in Paris and never once came to visit Royal at the school, as she had promised. She sees her aunt only once, at one of her performances at Covent Garden, and finds herself neglected backstage, while her aunt pays more attention to her fans, as well as her latest lover. This results in Royal having to make her way back to the school by herself, getting molested by a drunk, and fortunately rescued by Preston. Soon, she will have to return the favor and rescue him.

(For some reason, Ms. O'Banyon had Arabella be Damon's first love, when he was a teenager, and she the older woman he fell for and even asked to marry him. It had no relevance to the story, and aside from their seeing each other at the reading of Royal's father's will, they never spoke again. It seemed a bit silly to me.)

All this could have been summed up in the book a lot more quickly, so the more interesting part of the story could have started sooner: Royal's return to Savannah and the start of her relationship with Damon.

When she arrives home, it's with a mission: to find out where Preston has disappeared to. He was on a diplomatic mission for the British in the southern colonies and hadn't been heard from. Roya hopes Damon, a Colonel in the Patriot army, can use his influence to help find him. Damon hasn't seen Royal in over five years, and when she shows up at a ball uninvited to speak to him, he's fascinated by the "mystery lady" who (disappointed that he didn't recognize her) decides to flirt for the first time and play a few games, to get him intrigued enough to want to help her.
And so, it begins!

I won't give everything away, as there's some exciting times ahead, which include imprisonment, kidnapping, seduction, divided loyalties (Royal was torn between two countries as well as two men, though it didn't take long for her to know where her loyalties really were). Damon, meanwhile, finds himself fascinated by a stranger, bewildered when she turns out to be his ward, charmed by the lovely young woman she's turned into, and jealous of the British officer she's asked him to help find. Soon, they're both fighting their feelings, though longing to give in to desire.

I'll leave the rest of the story for those who wish to read the book. If you like an American history background, as well as adventure with romance thrown in, you'll enjoy this. ( )