The Reluctant Heiress Author:Eva Ibbotson Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny in your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. — "Tessa," however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts - and no one in the Viennese opera company n... more »eed know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess.
But when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realizes that there may be more to life -and love- than just music.
While the attraction between them in undeniable, Guy's insufferable snob of a fianc?e only solidifies Tessa's determination to keep her true identity a secret.
Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa's reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it's not too late for a fairytale ending...« less