A Countess Below Stairs, by Eva Ibbotson

This book is your typical romance, with a lot of history thrown in. The book starts off a little slow, leading the reader to wonder when something is actually going to happen. Nonetheless, it is a sweet romance, with vivid imagery. My only complaint is the writing style. Ibbotson seemed to be trying so hard to sound sophisticated, that I got lost in the verbose writing style.
Anna is young countess whose family fled Russia after the start of WWI. With no money, she has no choice but to work at the Westerholme Estate. It is there that she meets the young Earl of Westerholme, Rupert, who is engaged to woman who appears kind on the surface, put is in reality something far more evil.
Despite its weaknesses, A Countess Below Stairs is a nice read for teen girls. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.