Jove
Featuring: Lady Lydia Alfreton; Duke of Penhurst
401 pages ISBN: 0515151319 EAN: 9780515151312 Kindle: B00EOARZN2 Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
Years ago Clayton Galbraith, the Duke of Penthurst was
involved in a duel with one of his closest friends, Baron
Lakewood. He fully intended to fire away from his target,
but it appeared to him that Lakewood stepped directly into
the bullet's path. Their three mutual comrades steered
clear of him for a long time, believing him guilty of
murder. Only recently have more details come to light, and
it appears that indeed, Lakewood chose death rather than
face up to the consequences of some of the things he'd done.
While their friendships are (mostly) mended, there is
someone else who won't forgive Penthurst. Lydia Alfreton,
who is sister to Southwaite -- one of Penthurst's reconciled
friends, was in love with the deceased Baron Lakewood,
though no one else knew of it. Their relationship never
progressed beyond a kiss, but still, Lydia holds Penthurst
responsible for Lakewood's death. Since then, she has
become a shadow of her former self. She is dull, and
vacant, and only appears to come alive when she is gambling.
Lydia is also harboring another secret. It appears she is
being blackmailed. Penthurst encounters Lydia while she is
physically struggling with her blackmailer, who is
attempting to abduct her. He saves her, but the ensuing
fracas draws an audience, and sets the stage for a scandal.
In order to avoid it, they agree to marry.
Neither of them wanted to marry, and Lydia particularly
still harbors a grudge. Despite this, they have a very
strong physical relationship, though there's no emotional
intimacy. As the story unfolds, we learn the details of
Lydia's blackmail, the truth of her relationship with
Lakewood, and what exactly he was involved in that would
make him choose to die. I found Penthurst to be honorable,
caring, protective and likeable. I'll always root for
someone who has been unjustly accused. Yet, Lydia was very
hard for me to like for most of the book. She was cold,
even cruel at times. She called herself a woman of the
world, yet didn't act very intelligently. The author,
Madeline Hunter, did an excellent job of showing us Lydia's
metamorphosis, as she realizes the extent of Lakewood's
deceit, and begins to see the true worth of her husband, and
the mistakes she has made.
THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS is the
fourth book of the Fairbourne Quartet. I don't think
it's a
must to read the first three because you are given enough
background in this book to follow the story, but doing so
will add to your enjoyment. For those who have followed the
series, THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS nicely ties up the loose
ends, and is a
must read. I recommend the whole series.
From New York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter comes
this seductive tale of a headstrong young lady, a scandalous
manuscript, and the iron-willed duke determined to save her
from her ruin. For fans of Mary Balogh, Eloisa James, and
Julia Quinn.
When Lady Lydia Alfreton is blackmailed over the shocking
contents of a manuscript she once wrote, she must go to the
most desperate of measures to raise the money to buy back
the ill-considered prose: agreeing to an old wager posed by
the arrogant, dangerous Duke of Penthurst. At least
Penthurst is a man she wouldn’t mind fleecing—and she’s
confident she’ll win.
Penthurst long ago concluded Lydia was a woman in search of
ruinous adventure, but even he is surprised when she arrives
at his house ready to bet her innocence against his ten
thousand pounds—a wager he only proposed to warn her off
gambling.
When she loses to a simple draw of the cards, Lydia is
shocked. Now, her problems are twofold: a blackmailer
determined to see her pay and a duke determined to tame her
rebellious ways. One misstep and Lydia could find herself
ruined—or bound to the seductive man who would make her his
duchess.
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