The Painter's DaughterJulie Klassen Is the Gold Standard for Inspirational Regency Fiction Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful. Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him--one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse. Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family. Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows? |
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28th North Gloucestershire Angela arms bedchamber breath brother Captain Black Captain Overtree Carlton Keith child colonel dear dinner door doubt dressing room eyes face father feel gaze girl glanced gown grandfather grin hair hand Harrison he’d hear heard heart hope isn’t Kate Kate’s kiss knew leave letter Libby lips looked Lynmouth Mamma man’s marriage married Marsh Mary Katherine Mavis Mavis’s mind Miss Blake Miss Dupont Miss Whitney morning mother never night nodded O’Dell Overtree Hall Overtree’s paint Papa parents parlour Perhaps portrait prayed priest hole replied returned rose she’d shook her head shoulder smile Sophie asked Sophie felt Sophie’s sorry stairs Stephen stood strawberry birthmark studio sure surprised tell Thank thought Thrupton turned voice wait walked wasn’t Wesley Overtree Wesley’s whispered wife Winnie Winnie’s woman wondered worry wouldn’t You’re young