Seduced by the rakish son of the Duke of Elvaston, young Caroline Crawley finds she is pregnant. The Duke forces Crispin to marry her before the young man leaves to fight with Wellington’s forces on the Peninsula. Furious with his unwanted bride, the arrogant lord brutally rejects her on their wedding night. Caroline, losing her baby, and believing Crispin dead, flees Elvaston Castle to go on the London stage. Crispin’s unexpected return and his failure to recognize the actress as his wife causes Caroline untold unhappiness. The star-crossed pair’s future is also threatened by Crispin’s haughty, widowed sister in law, Lady Eveline, who conspires to keep them apart. Should Caroline try to win his love before confessing the truth or will he again reject her?
Severity reflects intensity, not value — “central theme” means a warning is a core part of the book, not that the book is bad.