The Sparks Fly Upward — Diana Norman

Diana Norman returns to the dramatic events of the late eighteenth century, crafting a new tale of courage in a time of danger, and love in a time of all-out war...

Lord, save me from the sin of waiting for his second wife to die, as did his first. ..

Few of those Philippa loves here in London return her affection. Not the love of her life, who has a new bride. Not even her unhappy, widowed mother, Makepeace Hedley. Almost inevitably, Philippa decides on a marriage of convenience to a prudish, if kind, campaigner for the freedom of slaves in the colonies.

But across the Channel in France, the Reign of Terror is beheading thousands of the French nobility. Among those in danger is Philippa's old friend the Marquis de Condorcet. Not only has Philippa the means to rescue him from the guillotine, she has the courage -- and crosses the Channel to do it. Then, as Makepeace falls in love with an actor back in England, Philippa also finds love where she least expects it -- while staring death in the face...