About 35 years ago a friend gave me a historical romance novel to read. I no longer remember the Title or the author.
A very young woman (I think as young as 16 or 17) is somehow married to a man against her will (he is possibly a nobleman, maybe even her guardian??). I think one of the lead characters might be spanish, or maybe Spain was the setting at the beginning. For some reason they end up on a ship, where he takes advantage of the close quarters to "have his way with her". They are married after all. Like so many leading ladies she is very spirited, but in the end she falls in love with her husband.
I think her life (or his life) may have been in danger. I'm pretty sure they were trying to "escape", what I don't remember (the inqusition???). This was set in a time when she needed help to dress and undress, and since no maid was available due to the circumstances, he provided the assistance (Long dresses, multiple undergarments, hooks where the wearer couldn't get at them). I also remember she had long dark hair. For some reason I think her hair was important to the plot, or the leading man really liked it. (But don't get hung up on that. )
It was definitely a romance novel, not something else with romance elements. The friend who gave it to me was a "Harlequin Romance" fanatic. I think she owned them all! But this particular book I'm pretty sure wasn't Harlequin. For one thing the plot was "darker" than any of the Harlequins she had lent me. I also remember the cover art was very dark. The Harlequins I was reading at the time always had "white" covers ( with the art).
I really hope someone can help. If I'm still thinking about it 35 years later it must have been good!
