'Ethan was broken. Broken, and running from it.'

Twelfth Night with the Earl (The Sutherland Sisters #3)  by Anna Bradley   

                          

Ethan Fortescue's return to Cleve's Court in Devon is full of surprises. The Earl of Devon has come to finally shut up the family seat--a place of terrible memories. This Christmas he's putting the past behind him. Or is he? The house that should be silent and dark is alight and full of merriment. There in the midst of things, directing the proceedings is his childhood friend Theodosia Sheridan.

The cut and thrust of the repartee between these two is so entertaining. Indeed, it seems the wicked Earl has a decidedly wicked sense of humor. 

Ethan is burdened with the most appalling sense of guilt centered around his brother's death at Cleve Court. Thea has determined to make Ethan face his ghosts, hoping to bring about his healing. Ethan needs to stop running! It seems though that she has made an appalling misjudgement. The deadline of winning Ethan over by the twelfth night of Christmas, helping him put aside his guilt over the tragedy of his brother, will not come to fruition.

Resident in the house with Thea are three orphans. They are precociously alert and wary of Ehtan. His efforts to win them over and his interactions with them are especially delightful.

This was a warm, often funny novel leaning on themes of guilt, love and redemption. 

The author's note on how epilepsy was perceived during these times gives a deeper understanding of the story.

A NetGalley ARC

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