THE ROSE AND THE SWORD

Caroline de la Romme Allery, noble daughter of a noble house, is chaste from pillow to postern across 1814 France. Forced to flee their ancient chateau before Cossacks pursuing Napoleon, Caroline and her father (a die-hard loyalist/activist and an intimate of Napoleon) set out for Paris. Caroline, an energetic virgin, works hard at translating her father's commitments into victories in order to prevent his further bitterness against her brother, his only son, a turncoat. She's a one girl light brigade, whether charging through the countryside disguised as a boy or swirling around Paris bedecked as a fetching maid. And, it's rape to the left of her, seduction to the right of her all the way--the first from Cossacks and de Sade-ish politicians, the latter from none other than The Little Corporal himself. Ours not to reason why Caroline emerges relatively intact. In fact, rather than heading for the sexual security of the nearest convent, this fine girl not only retains a lively interest in and high regard for the opposite sex, but she surrenders her heart to Giles, Duc de Belomere--immediately after she unties him from the plank of a private guillotine in the cellar of one of her villainous admirers. . . . Hi romance, Lo Cal food for thought, and possible only for Angelique's admirers.