I enjoyed this unusual historical romance. It isn't often I find one set in pre-Revolution France, and this is the first I've read that involved people of color. When the story opens, Lilas is a servant in the home of the Duc de Languedoc. She came to them from the orphanage she was left at as a baby. As a mixed-race child, she suffered a lot of bullying at the orphanage and later from the other servants on the estate. Her only friend was Bastien, the duc's son, who was also mixed race. Bastien stands up for her when he can and comforts her when he cannot.

In the opening chapter, we discover that eighteen-year-old Lilas is the long-lost daughter of a comte, and she is to take her rightful place in her father's home. At the same time, Bastien is informed by his father that Lilas is his betrothed, an arrangement set up by their fathers before she was born. Bastien has a difficult relationship with his controlling father, and rather than accepting Lilas as his wife, he leaves on a Grand Tour. Lilas feels betrayed as her only friend deserts her in her hour of need.

Four years later, Bastien returns to France. His father is dead, and he is the new duc. His first order of business is to convince Lilas to break their betrothal. He wants a wife with an impeccable background, not one who used to be a servant. He feels it is necessary to restore the family's honor after his father was banished for marrying a Maroon for love. He also wants someone he would have no chance of falling in love with, as he remembers his father being a broken man after his wife's death.

Lilas, whose arrival in Paris four years ago revived the scandal of her parents' marriage, is now well-versed in society's behavior. However, she is now more famous for her art, even gaining the queen's patronage. She's dismayed by Bastien's return and wants nothing to do with their betrothal. Determined to retain her independence, marriage is the last thing she wants.

Unfortunately, their betrothal becomes public knowledge, bringing them to the queen's attention. They are forced to play the part until they can find a way to safely part ways. Neither counted on their sizzling attraction, and each fought hard against it. Several times I wanted to reach into the pages and shake Bastien. I thought his treatment of the woman who was once his best friend was unnecessarily cruel. To repeatedly tell her that she wasn't good enough to be his wife was a terrible thing, especially when he would turn around and be sensitive and supportive.

Meanwhile, Lilas is caught in a battle with herself. She is still hurt and angry over how he left her, but she can't deny the feelings he stirs in her. Sometimes she thinks he returns her feelings, but then he'll turn cold again. It doesn't help that her stepmother frequently plays on her fears by suggesting that Bastien has ulterior motives.

When circumstances make it advisable for them to marry, Bastien suggests a marriage of convenience. One that will remain unconsummated, allowing them to seek an annulment after a while. But being together all the time strains the control Bastien has worked so hard to cultivate. When that control finally snaps, Bastien must decide whether to admit his feelings or continue to fight them.

Since their betrothal became public, Lilas has received several warnings that she is in danger. Bastien's unexpected arrival foiled an attack outside the dressmaker's. Someone slipped a sleeping draught into Lilas's drink on their wedding day, prompting Bastien to take them out of Paris to his family estate. There a collapsed balcony railing shows that danger has followed them. Though the culprit was not a surprise, the motivation was not what I expected. The final confrontation was intense and heartbreaking. It had the benefit of breaking through Bastien's fears and showing him his feelings for Lilas. I loved Bastien's emotional confession. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up, giving a glimpse of their lives a year and a half later.

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