Martine Archer has worked as Charles Redmond's executive assistant (although they call her a private assistant) at a bank for four years since leaving her family's small sheep farm for London. It's been a very peacable existance althought she has worried about Charles who appears to be fading away ever since his wife's death in a car accident 2 years ago, until he announces that he's bringing in his cousin Bruno Falcucci from Switzerland to take an active role in the company and be his heir. Martine bitterly resents Bruno, feeling he is taking advantage of Charles' weaknesses and some other less rational reactions every time he is near. When Charles comes down with flu and can't go to the convention in Rome, Bruno accompanies Martine to give the speech for him. They get two steps closer and take three steps back the whole time, first making out on the street and then making love the next night after Bruno has been tortured with jealousy, making eye contact with Martine all night while she wears a chiffon dress and has dinner with a German banker Gerhard. But they are both cold to each other the next morning and when Martine takes off from the convention early Bruno is further convinced that she wants to marry Charles for his money and safety. Several months later Martine realizes she is pregnant - Charles finds out and offers to marry her, telling her he has a brain tumor... Will Charles survive? Will Martine marry him without telling Bruno of her feelings and/or her pregancy?
Charlotte Lamb is one of the best Presents authors in my opinion. She sets a great example for how it should be done, resisting the practice of placing the characters in a by-gone era to make it seem more exciting or more moral. Martine is no virgin and even comments on how her parents might expect that she is despite her being 27 and having had several long term relationships as they are stuck in the 1940's - this struck a chord with me as I have read many Presents where it does seem the h/h are stuck in a similar era. Martine is shown to be a strong business woman - no mere secretary despite her PA title (although maybe that means something diferent in Britain?). We are even treated to scenes showing Martine doing something other than fielding calls (so many office romances feature a glorified receptionist falling for her boss) and even investment managers turn to her for help and advice. She's even going to go back to work once the baby is born and can afford to care for it on her own! Martine does face difficulties though and they aren't just swept under the rug - some are just there and accepted, such as Charles' chauvanism which prompted him to not even consider the possibility that Martine could've made the speech in Rome for him. In terms of the relationship, I really appreciate how Martine and Bruno are shown to be drawn to each other without any of the standard mental lusting; it's done with dialogue and the character's reactions to what isn't said as well, the disappointment in both of them at the awkward morning after. My only complaint about this book is the name of the baby - Roma! - for her nose and birthplace. Books like this should be a must read for Presents authors, and the Harlequin editors should reread it as well - I'm sure if this book was published now it would be "The Italian Banker's Pregnant Mistress" or some such and I would never have had the pleasure of reading it!
