Born into a happy family that is tragically ravaged by smallpox, Miss Priscilla Butterworth must use her wits to survive a series of outlandish trials . . . Cruelly separated from her beloved mother and grandmother, the young girl is sent to live with a callous aunt who forces her to work for her keep. Eventually, the clever and tenderhearted Miss Butterworth makes her escape . . . a daring journey into the unknown that unexpectedly leads her to the "mad" baron and a lifetime of love. Delightfully illustrated by Violet Charles, and told in Julia Quinn's playful voice, Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron is a high-spirited nineteenth-century romp that will entertain and enchant modern readers.