THE DAMSEL Claire Delacroix Dell Historical Romance March 1999 ISBN# 0-440-22588-4 {Click here to buy this book} In keeping with tradition, Claire Delacroix gives us another amazing tale of the search for true love in her second installment

Alys is the Cinderella of Kiltorren Castle. Virtually enslaved by her Aunt Deirdre, Alys' life is one of hardship and toil. While her stepsisters, Malvina and Brigid, are living in a style befitting their station, Alys is treated no better than the servants of the castle. Her only friends are those she works with, and her mother's now ancient hand maiden, Heloise, who has recently suffered at the hand of Deirdre's wrath herself. With the death of her mother, and an unknown father, Alys' future is left to the discretion of her aunt, her mother's sister, and uncle Cedric. But Alys does her aunt's bidding with love because Kiltorren is Alys' ancestral home. The servants have become the family members she should have had in her own family. And she's woven a life for herself even though her family has denied her the one that is rightly hers. But even with all the sacrifices that Alys is forced to endure, she's still the center of Deirdre's jealousy and hatred, and has even suffered physical abuse in her aunts retaliation. But Alys knows there is nothing she can do and tries to make the best of her situation. She has no champion, as he had left Kiltorren three years earlier after playing with her heart. Just when she thought that her life could get no worse, this man strides back into her life to torment her again.

Burke de Montvieux had fallen for Alys three years ago but forced to leave before he could ask for her hand. They had shared a single kiss which had been his undoing. Until then he was sure he'd never find his one true love. But they had been caught in the stables, his hand on her breast, by Deirdre and Cedric. He had been informed that Alys wanted nothing to do with Burke, as he'd humiliated her, and the family had sent him away. Reluctantly he'd left, but for three long years he could think of nothing but Alys. He'd returned for her twice but each time he was told that Alys had run away and no one knew where she was. Burke had search all of Ireland for her but with no success. And in the end, his path led back to Kiltorren. To his surprise, Alys was there. And living as a servant as penance for her wanton ways. He tried to convince Alys of his intentions but she had been fed too many lies and he is forced to win her belief, trust and eventually her hand.

Though "The Damsel" is a Cinderella story told over again, it's related in such a way that only vague similarities can be seen. The result of Claire Delacroix's creative vision is a tale woven of fantasy, magic and old world culture which culminate in a most extraordinary intrigue. Delacroix's characters, as usual, are captivating and well thought out. "The Damsel" is so well told that minor historical inaccuracies are readily forgiven, and are often forgotten as the story becomes more multifarious. "The Damsel" certainly lives up to it's predecessors beginnings. I can't wait to read of Rowen de Montvieux's bride quest in "The Heiress"!