Purchase
The Duchess Quartet
Avon
March 2004
On Sale: March 1, 2004
Featuring: Helene, the Countess Godwin; Rees, the Earl Godwin
376 pages
ISBN: 0060560789
EAN: 9780060560782
Kindle: B000FCKL70
Paperback / e-Book
Add to Wish List
Romance Historical
Viscount in Love, August 2024
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Not That Duke, August 2023
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book / audiobook
The Reluctant Countess, December 2022
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book / audiobook
How to Be a Wallflower, April 2022
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book / audiobook
Mistletoe Christmas, October 2021
Paperback / e-Book / audiobook
Wilde Child, April 2021
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
My Last Duchess, November 2020
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Say Yes to the Duke, May 2020
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Say No to the Duke, June 2019
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Born to Be Wilde, August 2018
Paperback / e-Book
Too Wilde to Wed, June 2018
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Midsummer Delights, February 2018
e-Book (reprint)
Wilde in Love, November 2017
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Seven Minutes in Heaven, February 2017
Paperback / e-Book
A Gentleman Never Tells, July 2016
e-Book
The Official Essex Sisters Companion Guide, June 2016
e-Book
My American Duchess, February 2016
Paperback / e-Book
Four Nights with the Duke, April 2015
Paperback / e-Book
Three Weeks With Lady X, April 2014
Paperback / e-Book
Once Upon a Tower, June 2013
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
As You Wish, April 2013
Paperback / e-Book
With This Kiss: Part Three, April 2013
e-Book
With This Kiss: Part Two, March 2013
e-Book
With This Kiss: Part One, March 2013
e-Book
The Lady Most Willing, January 2013
Paperback / e-Book
Seduced by a Pirate, November 2012
e-Book
The Ugly Duchess, September 2012
Paperback / e-Book
Paris In Love, April 2012
Hardcover / e-Book
The Duke is Mine, January 2012
Paperback / e-Book
Winning the Wallflower, December 2011
e-Book
A Fool Again, May 2011
Paperback
When Beauty Tamed The Beast, February 2011
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
When Beauty Tamed the Beast, February 2011
e-Book
The Lady Most Likely..., January 2011
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
A Kiss at Midnight, August 2010
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Midnight Pleasures, October 2009
Mass Market Paperback (reprint)
Potent Pleasures: A Novel, October 2009
Mass Market Paperback
A Duke of Her Own, August 2009
Paperback / e-Book
This Duchess of Mine, June 2009
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
When The Duke Returns, December 2008
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Duchess By Night, July 2008
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
An Affair Before Christmas, December 2007
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book
Desperate Duchesses, June 2007
Paperback / e-Book
Pleasure for Pleasure, December 2006
Paperback / e-Book
The Taming of the Duke, April 2006
Paperback / e-Book
Kiss Me, Annabel, December 2005
Paperback / e-Book
Talk of the Ton, April 2005
Paperback
Much Ado About You, January 2005
Paperback / e-Book
The One That Got Away, October 2004
Paperback
Your Wicked Ways, March 2004
Paperback / e-Book
A Wild Pursuit, February 2004
Paperback / e-Book
Fool for Love, July 2003
Paperback / e-Book
Duchess in Love, December 2002
Paperback / e-Book
Enchanting Pleasures, April 2002
Paperback / e-Book
Midnight Pleasures, May 2001
Paperback / e-Book
Potent Pleasures, May 2000
Paperback / e-Book
Chapter One
In Strictest Confidence
18 March 1816
The Countess Pandross to Lady Patricia Hamilton
... my dearest, as to what you tell me of the exploits of
Earl Godwin, I can only say that nothing will ever
surprise me. The former Countess Godwin (who was, as you
know, one of my very dearest friends) would turn in her
grave if she knew that her son was entertaining opera
singers in her house! And I shudder to think that one of
these infamous women may actually be living with him. How
his poor wife is able to hold her head high, I shall never
know. Helene has always showed edifying composure,
although I did hear a whisper -- just a whisper --
suggesting that she may request a divorce. I can't imagine
how much that would cost, but Godwin must have at least
fifteen thousand pounds a year and can probably afford it.
At any rate, my dear, what I am truly longing to hear
about are your plans for sweet Patricia's debut. Didn't
you tell me that you were planning a ball for the weekend
of the fifth? Mrs. Elizabeth Fremable tells me ...
21 April 1816
Helene Godwin, Countess Godwin, to her mother, currently
residing in Bath
Dear Mother,
I am most sympathetic to your distress over the continuing
debacle of my marriage. I fully recognize that my decision
to elope with Rees brought scandal into the family, but I
would remind you that the elopement was years ago. I am
equally aware that a divorce would be far more grievous.
But I beg of you, please accept my decision. I simply
cannot continue in this fashion. I am heartsick when I
think of my life.
Your loving daughter,
Helene, Countess Godwin
22 April 1816
Rees Holland, Earl Godwin, to his brother, a vicar in the
North Country
Dear Tom,
Things are all right here. Yes, I know that you are
fretting over my infamous reputation, but you will simply
have to overlook my slurs on the family name. I assure you
that my sins are even more plenteous than your pious
correspondents have told you. Women dance on top of the
table in the dining room daily.
Yours with all proper sentiment,
Rees
22 April 1816
Miss Patricia Hamilton to Miss Prunella Forbes- Shacklett
Dear Prunes,
It is too bad of your mama to bury you in the country!
When is she planning to bring you to town? I assure you
that it is already very crowded here, and if one does not
make an appointment, it is impossible to find a mantua
maker who will even discuss a court gown. But Prunes, I
met the most absolutely fascinating man yesterday. He is
apparently quite, quite notorious—a veritable rake! I am
not going to put his name here, in case my abominable
little brother obtains this letter before I mail it, but
he is an earl and his initials are RH. You can look him up
in Debrett's. Apparently he threw his wife out of the
house some years ago, and now lives with an opera singer!
My mother (as you can imagine) was in a flurry of anxiety
and told me later not to even think of dancing with him,
as there is talk of a divorce. Imagine: me dancing with a
divorced man! Naturally I shall do it if the opportunity
ever presents itself ...
23 May 1816
Rees Holland, Earl Godwin, to Helene Holland, Countess
Godwin
Helene,
If you'd like to see me, you'll have to come to the house,
as I'm trying to finish a score that's needed in rehearsal
directly. To what do I owe this charming, if unexpected,
pleasure? I trust you are not going to request a divorce
again, as my answer will be the same as the last. I'll
tell Sims to wait for a reply as I think it doubtful that
you will find the backbone to enter this den of iniquity.
Rees (should I say,Your Darling Husband?)
23 May 1816
Mr. Ned Suffle, Manager of the Royal Italian Opera House,
to Rees Holland, Earl Godwin
Without putting undue pressure on you, my lord, I must
have the score of The Quaker Girl by the end of this month
latest.
23 May 1816
Helene Holland, Countess Godwin to Rees Holland, Earl
Godwin
I shall visit you this afternoon at two of the clock. I
trust you will be alone.