It's 1825 and Sir Richard Kenworthy needs a wife. Fast. He
must get
married within two weeks to save Maycliffe, his home, so
falling in love is
out of the question. Attending the Smythe-Smith family
musicale, Richard
doesn't have much hope. Not only are the single ladies
woefully tone deaf
when it comes to their musical skills, but none seem to
meet his
requirements. Richard is desperate to find a wife but he
has a few
necessary stipulations - cannot be spoiled, must be
intelligent, cannot be
from his home in Yorkshire, cannot be rich, and most
importantly must
value one's family. With this in mind Richard spies Iris
Smythe-Smith in the
background, playing the cello. After being introduced and
a few outings,
Richard decides that she has everything he needs, and that
he actually
enjoyed her company. Iris is flattered by Richard but is
suspicious as to why
he would choose to single her out as she feels she is no
great beauty, and
she does not have a large dowry.
One week later, Richard proposes and, as he had predicted,
Iris required
more time to get to know him. Time is the one thing he
cannot give her, so
he kisses her as her Aunt Charlotte enters the room. Iris'
father determines
they should marry the next week and Richard has got what
he desires, but
looking at Iris, who is visibly upset, he feels no
triumph. He never wanted to
upset her but he has to save his family.
In no time Iris finds herself married, in name at least,
and on her way to the
Maycliffe household. She is very confused with their
relationship. She is
attracted to Richard, and enjoys the time they spend
together, but cannot
understand why he so obviously avoids their marriage bed,
and why he
orchestrated that kiss so they would be forced to marry
quickly. Expecting
to meet Richard's two sisters, Fleur and Marie-Claire, she
is surprised to
find they won't return to Maycliffe for a week. Richard is
relieved as it
means he has one weeks reprieve from having to tell Iris
the horrible truth.
He does not want her to hate him, and he believes she
will, especially now
that he desires her so much. As the week passes and their
passion grows
for each other, Richard still holds himself back from
Iris, which hurts her
deeply as she is falling in love with him. Iris knows he
is hiding something
but cannot figure it out. When Richard's secrets are
revealed will he be able
to convince Iris that he has fallen deeply in love with
her, and that he needs
her so desperately? Or is it too late to save their
marriage and their family?
THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY by Julia Quinn is a
masterpiece of Regency romance. The characters jump off
the page and,
as a reader, we are instantly attached to Sir Richard and
Iris. As the plot
progresses we see Richard struggle with his secrets and
Iris try to
understand the man that she loves, and I found myself
willing him to tell her
everything. The connection between the couple is
electrifying - and Julia
Quinn sure knows how to write a love scene! Iris is
clever, caring, witty,
vulnerable at times, yet strong when she needs to be, and
that is why she
is my favourite character. Sir Richard is honourable,
handsome, caring, if a
little misguided in his ways. THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD
KENWORTHY by Julia Quinn is simply Regency romance at its
finest.
Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second— or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one. Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes.
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