Arabia lies between North Africa and Asia, and in 1815 it was something of a crossroads. Kadar is Prince of Murimon, having recently inherited the throne on the death of his brother. Kadar had lived in Europe and tries to face up to the challenges provided by being an enlightened ruler of his people, including inheriting his brother's fiancée. Lady Constance Montgomery, aboard the East Indiaman sailing ship Kent, is heading out to India. She has a merchant's wife as chaperone, although she is twenty-five, for she is going out to be married - for money; her family insists. The Arabian Sea abruptly throws up a storm and fate takes a hand.

Constance is not found for a few weeks, surviving in a fishing village, and news of the shipwreck has already been sent to Bombay and Cairo for forwarding to her family. When she is presented to Prince Kadar, he tells her that her relatives will think she is dead. This offers some intriguing opportunities. Both Arabian and English families are used to arranged marriages. Could Constance possibly marry for love? The exotic, ornate palace, fine fabrics, and sensual denizens are outside her experience. As it happens, the kingdom is in need of a temporary court astronomer.

Love it! Uranus has recently been discovered and the Prince has bought one of William Herschel's telescopes. What a wonderful occupation for an intelligent woman. During the Napoleonic period the upper class could not travel to the Continent, and lavish balls were often frowned upon in wartime, so they developed arts in their homes.

Among the other characters we meet are Christopher Fordyce, adventurer, and we hear news of other people I recognize from the series. This is a standalone book though, lavish with description and the taste of sun-kissed freedom. If you have ever gone on holiday and thought suddenly that you need never go home, you could find work out here and explore life, you will understand exactly how Lady Constance feels with the weight of duty lifted off her shoulders. SHEIKH'S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE is classic Marguerite Kaye with many of her trademarks, including a tantalizing mature romance. Read this and you'll want more.

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