The Not Exactly Scarlet Pimpernel

C. P. Lesley

Ninel Pennington, better known as Nina, just wants to finish her Ph.D. dissertation. But the professor she crossed the country to work with has too many students. To win his acceptance, she must excel in a virtual-reality computer simulation of her favorite novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel. When she lands the coveted role of Marguerite, the novel's heroine, she's overjoyed—until she realizes she's about to spend two weeks as the estranged wife of her least-favorite fellow grad student, cast as the Scarlet Pimpernel himself.

Soon Nina finds herself drawn into the troubled life of Marguerite, a coquettish socialite who couldn't care less for Nina's advice. Marguerite wants only to get this meddlesome stranger out of her head, but Nina's determined to share her insights, especially after the Pimpernel's adversary closes in, and she figures out that only an alliance with Marguerite's husband will ensure their survival.

But Marguerite has surprises for Nina as well. A lady doesn't rule high society without learning to handle people—especially men—and before Nina has time to realize how much trouble she's in, the Scarlet Pimpernel proves to be a good deal less estranged than she'd ever thought possible.

Stay tuned for publication information on The Not Exactly Scarlet Pimpernel.