Vice

April 29, 1996
The last in Feather's string of "V" romances (Vanity, Violet, Vixen), Vice is constructed around a series of predictable rescues from the underbelly of Georgian London. The hero-Tarquin, third Duke of Redmayne-buys a virgin, Juliana Ridge, in order to reclaim some land from his debauched, unredeemable cousin Lucien, who is dying of the pox. Tarquin will marry him to Juliana, then get the chit with child himself and thus keep Lucien's estate in the family. While they fall in love, firebrand Juliana fights to win rights and protections for prostitutes. It's a job best done, apparently, with an omnipotent peer around to bail you out and buy you pretty clothes.