Lady of Passion,Used

Review Lightfoot carefully embroiders her latest absorbing novel with plenty of fascinating historical details about the hopes and heartbreaks of the real Mary Robinson. Booklist Product Description Beautiful and talented actress, poet and fashion icon, Mary Robinson was one of the most famous women of her time yet she died virtually penniless, her reputation in ruins. For Mary was destined always to be betrayed by the men she loved her father, her husband and, most seriously, by the Prince of Wales, later George IV, for whom Mary gave up her career, her husband and her independence, only to be cruelly abandoned. This is her enthralling story: a tale of ambition, passion, scandal and heartbreak. From Booklist If there is one thing life has taught Mary Darby Robinson, it is that you can never really count on a man. As a child, Mary observed how horribly her father treated her mother. Marys feckless first husband, Tom Robinson, not only insisted that she give up her longheld dream of becoming an actress, he also gambled away their money and openly consorted with other women during their marriage. Forced to turn to the stage to support herself and her child, Mary is surprised when her acting draws the notice of the Prince of Wales. As it turns out, however, the prince is more interested in Mary than in her rendition of Perdita from A Winters Tale. Mary soon finds herself giving up everythingher career, her marriage, and her independencefor the princes declaration of undying love, only to find that a royals word is like pie crust: easily broken. Lightfoot carefully embroiders her latest absorbing novel with plenty of fascinating historical details about the hopes and heartbreaks of the real Mary Robinson. John Charles Review Its the ultimate battle royal in the latest passionrich installment on Queen and the Courtesan BooklistReaders who miss Jean Plaidy will welcome Lightfoots French historical series, which delivers plenty of royal passion and highstakes politics on Reluctant Queen Booklist"Brimming with enough scandal, passion and danger for a Jackie Collins novel" on Hostage Queen Booklist About the Author This top PLR author was born in Lancashire but now lives in Spain, where she produces her own olive oil. She has published over fifty short stories, numerous articles and more than thirtyfive novels, including many bestselling family sagas. Excerpt. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Extract of Lady of Passion Prologue Woman of Letters My portrait you desire! and why? To keep a shade on memrys eye, What bliss can reason prove, To gaze upon a senseless frame! On looks eternally the same, And lips that never move. But what are features? What is form? To combat lifes tempestuous storm. Mary Darby Robinson Stanzas for a Friend who desired to have my portrait 1800 So you were once the beautiful Mrs Robinson? I stare up at the man, this ruffian who has burst unannounced into my bedroom, shocked by his sudden invasion upon my privacy. Maria, my beloved daughter, is flapping about him like a startled pigeon, while my first thought is to protest that I still am beautiful. But I say nothing, as I know this to be untrue. My health has improved recently, and on the rare occasions Ive visited London I have ventured out in my carriage to take the air. But I cannot claim that driving about Hyde Park excites the interest it once did. I am no longer a leader of fashion, the doyenne of Drury Lane, or the adored mistress of a royal prince, powdered, patched and painted to the utmost power of rouge and white lead. Fashion is a sylph of fantastic appearance, the illegitimate offspring of caprice decked with flowers, feathers, tinsel, jewels, beads, and all the garish profusion of degenerated fancy. No artist now begs to paint my portrait. My auburn hair is turning to a dull grey, the blue of my eyes look quite washed out,