Historical
Lessons in French
By Pamela Denise
Mar 1, 2010 - 1:10:19 PM

Twenty-seven year old Callista Taillefaire has resigned herself to living out the rest of her days in the countryside as a spinster. It is widely known that she has already been jilted by three fiancés and she isn’t too hopeful of gaining any future prospects. With her father’s passing, and her sister about to be married off, she knows she will have to live under the thumb of her cousin’s new wife if she is to remain at Shelford Hall. Callie is withdrawn from society’s outings unless necessary and instead spends her days on her passion which is breeding prize winning cattle. Then her childhood sweetheart, Trevelyan Davis d'Augustin, suddenly returns after a nine year absence and her quiet little world becomes a whole lot more complicated.

Trevelyan Davis d'Augustin, the duc de Monceaux, met Callie in boyhood when his mother was giving Callie French lessons. He soon fell in love with the vivacious girl who’d often take part in his antics. Unable to control his youthful desires, he and Callie got caught up in each other’s explorations in her father’s carriage house one night. The furious Earl caught his daughter in the compromising position. After a confrontation, Trevelyan realized he will never be good enough to be a suitor for Callie and decided to flee the country in shame. A lot has changed since he’s left. Trevelyan is no longer a poor boy; he has procured a fortune for himself. Because of this, when he receives word that his mother’s health is failing, he feels he can return to the home he left behind.

As soon as Trevelyan and Callie are reunited, it is apparent that the old flames are still there. Callie, who has remained good friends with Trevelyan’s mother, insists on helping him nurse her back to good health. There joint effort puts them in each other’s close proximity often and soon the emotions they’ve kept buried from the past start pouring out.  However, one of Callie’s former fiancés shows up to try to win over her affections as well, causing Trevelyan’s jealousy to spark. Callie is proud of the man Trevelyan’s become and dares to hope they could finally be together. Trevelyan hasn’t exactly been honest with Callie though in how he’s spent the past nine years or how his fortune has been gained. While he longs for her, he doesn’t feel worthy, but he’s determined to have her in his life while he can and sets out to give her one last adventure before he parts for good.