Scandalous Lady

Author(s): Beth Elliott

Location(s): Istanbul (Constantinople)

Genre(s): Historical, Romance

Era(s): 1811

Turkey, 1811 All in the name of love…

Before Richard Hartford left their family estate for Turkey to fulfill his lifelong dream of exporing antiquities, he sent his sister Olivia to London for the season, hoping she would find herself a husband. But scandal erupted when Lord Craybook, a gambler with huge debts who knew he could not win her hand any other way, set out to compromise her, keeping Olivia away from home overnight.
Olivia’s aunt, who she was staying with in London, insists she marry Lord Craybrook, but Olivia refuses. Now 23, Olivia is a strong woman who knows her own mind. She sails to Turkey and joins her brother. Olivia is charmed by life here, and happily sketches people and places for her brother’s book.
Selim Effendi is negotiating peace with Russia on behalf of the Ottoman Sultan. Suspecting Olivia and her brother of spying for the enemy, he has Olivia kidnapped for interrogation, assuming seduction will follow. She resists, shaming him into an agreement: to restore his honour and establish her trust. By devoting time to Olivia, Selim angers the Sultan, who orders the removal of the Hartfords. Complications worsen with the arrival of Lord Crayrook, still determined to win Olivia by any means possible. And Lady Hester Stanhope, craving an important political role, interferes with British diplomatic efforts with the Ottoman government.
When her brother disappears and Selim is shot, it seems Olivia is destined to live a life of solitude and regret. Can she negotiate any kind of solution and have a happy oucome? Filled with rich detail about life in Ottoman society, ‘Scandalous Lady’ is a love story that crosses cultures and boundaries, showing what is possible when love is at stake.

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