The Orchid Affair (Pink Carnation)

"PrideandPrejudiceliveson"(USAToday)inLaurenWillig'sPinkCarnationseries,whichhasbeenhailedforitsaddictiveblendofhistory,romance,andadventure.InTheOrchidAffair,Willigintroducesherstrongestheroineyet.LauraGrey,aveterangoverness,joinstheSelwickSpySchoolexpectingtofindelaboratedisguisesandthrillingexploitsinservicetothespyknownasthePinkCarnation.ShehardlyexpectsherfirstassignmenttobeservingasgovernessforthechildrenofAndreJaouen,right-handmantoBonaparte'sministerofpolice.Jaouenandhisarchrival,GastonDelaroche,areinvestigatingasuspectedRoyalistplottounseatBonaparte,andLaura'smissionistoreportanysuspiciousfindings.AtfirstthejobisaslivelyasLatintextbooksandknitting,butLaurabeginstonoticestrangebehaviorfromJaouen-secretmeetingsandoddcomingsandgoings.AsLauraedgesherselfclosertoheremployer,shemakesashockingdiscoveryandissurprisedtolearnthatshehasfarmoreincommonwithJaouenthansheoriginallythought...Astheirplotsbegintounravel,LauraandJaouenareforcedontherunwiththechildren,andwiththehelpofthePinkCarnationtheyescapetothecountryside,travelingashusbandandwife.ButDelarochewillstopatnothingtotakedownhisnemesis.Withhismenhotontheirtrail,canLauraandJaouensealthefateofEuropebeforeit'stoolate?