"The Rake and the Virgin...Georgian style..."
Reviewed by Rachel Williams
Posted February 23, 2013
Romance Historical
Lord Hadley Blanchard was a young, relatively naïve young
man until he fell into the clutches of his avaricious and
immoral stepmother, Barbara. After his father's suicide,
the resulting scandal leaves Hadley almost penniless, and
forces him away from England and to wandering Europe. Sir
Richard Fisk, whose political ambitions is the guiding force
behind Hadley's fall from grace, provides a small income to
him as long as he spied on the 'Pretender' to the English
throne, James, while he resides in Italy. After seven years
of a dissolute, hedonistic lifestyle, Hadley makes plans to
return to England to regain his lost title and lands;
currently being held in the greedy clutches of Sir Richard.
After the recent death of her father, Mary Elizabeth
Edwardes is the richest heiress in England. She is quite
happy to lead her peaceful, pastoral existence; but her
guardian, who is none other than Sir Richard, decides to
arrange a marriage for her that will benefit him financially
and politically. To this end, he sends Lady Barbara
Blanchard to assist Mary in preparing for society and an
advantageous marriage. Barbara's perverse desires have only
grown over the years, and she still carries a sexual
fixation for Hadley; who had been such an eager pupil to her
twisted desires. No one has Mary's interest at heart; only
their own wicked ambition and greed at her expense.
Hadley arrives in England, eager to regain his lands and
title in any way possible. He immediately resurrects his
affair with Barbara. When he meets Mary, however, the young
virginal miss quickly captures his attention. He begins the
task of courting her to gain her inheritance, only to find
himself so drawn to her that he begins wooing her in
earnest. I found the scenes spent alone with Hadley and Mary
to be full of witty banter and tender moments as their
obvious attraction grew. Unfortunately, there are other
villainous players in the story who have plans for both
Hadley and Mary; and none of these plans are for the two to
end up happy and together. Mary especially was left twisting
in a fate that she had no real control over.
TREACHEROUS TEMPTATION is a dark and twisted tale of
perversion, ambition,
and revenge. I quite enjoy the dark, tormented, almost
irredeemable hero; and Hadley filled his role as a rake
admirably. Mary and Hadley are well fleshed out characters;
however, the villains were at turns too twisted or too
underdeveloped 'stock' villains. The depraved and evil Lord
Barnsley was the exception; I wish there had been more time
spent building his truly heinous immorality. I really liked
the period setting of the story, even though the vibrant,
colorful Georgian era was not deeply developed. Overall,
TREACHEROUS TEMPTATION is an engaging story with several
twists and turns;
well written and quite interesting.
Reviewed by - Naysa Gallups
SUMMARY
A reluctant heiress resigned to her fate… Mary Elizabeth
Edwardes has one of the largest fortune's in England, but
has no desire to leave her quiet country existence… and even
less to acquire a husband she cannot choose for herself.
A dissolute nobleman bent on retribution… Trapped in a
duplicitous existence since scandal destroyed his fortune
and family name, Lord Hadley Blanchard has spent the better
part of a decade posing as a disaffected exile while spying
and seducing in the service of the English Crown.
A dangerous game of seduction, and intrigue… When summoned
from abroad by a former lover, Lord Hadley perceives an
opportunity for vengeance at last. By employing the full
measure of his seductive charm, he woos the ward of the man
who destroyed his life, little knowing that winning Mary's
fortune will mean risking his own treacherous heart.
Excerpt"You must meet the girl soon." Barbara gave a languid
stretch, arching her back to display her breasts to best
advantage. He had already capitulated to her demands once,
but Barbara was never satisfied for long. She had come to
his rooms before he could even unpack his bag and had nearly
torn his clothes off in a lust–inspired frenzy.
"I believe I have." Hadley ignored the blatant
invitation for a second course, threw his legs over the side
of the bed, and pulled his shirt back on over his head.
"How so? When?" she demanded.
"This morning, shortly after my arrival. In the music
room. She was receiving most ineffectual dance instruction."
"But Monsieur Gaspar is the best...at dancing anyway.
Unfortunately, his lack of ...inches... makes him quite
inadequate in other capacities." She rose and pressed her
breasts to Hadley's back, stretching her arms about his
waist and licking the shell of his ear. Once, that might
have driven him near insane, but now it was faintly annoying.
He gently but firmly disentangled himself and continued
dressing. "Nevertheless, he had her so agitated the poor
thing was positively tripping over herself."
"But that is only her natural predisposition!" Barbara
laughed. "Didn't I tell you what a coarse creature she is? I
despair that she'll ever be ready to present. 'Tis a good
thing you are arrived. Mayhap we can now forgo the certain
fiasco of taking her out into society." "Perhaps her manners
and deportment lack refinement, but there's nothing coarse
about the girl. To be frank, I though her artlessness rather
refreshing." He smiled inwardly at their moment of ludicrous
laugher at the dancing master's expense. He couldn't recall
the last time he'd chuckled so naturally and spontaneously.
"That's absurd! You can't be saying you are taken with
her, Hadley?" Something in his expression made Barbara's
gaze narrow. "Well, I suppose it's best if she doesn't
altogether repulse you. It will facilitate the task at hand."
"And what task is that?" he asked. He had far more
important matters on his mind—like how to secure a
loan and garner sufficient support to petition the king.
Perhaps he would do better to try the queen? Walpole had
managed to run the country through her and Hadley could
charm the petticoats off any woman. Why would a young and
reasonably attractive queen prove any different?
"Darling, I never thought you obtuse. You must wed the
chit before someone else claims her fortune."
"Wed her?" the words jarred him out of his ruminations.
"Is your mind disordered of a sudden, Barbara? I have no
plans to wed anyone. Ever."
She gave him a petulant look. "But how else do you
suppose we are to get our hands on her money?"
"Is that the scheme you had in mind when you wrote me? To
bilk an unwary young heiress of her fortune?"
"Brilliant, isn't it?" She laughed. "I told you I had
discovered a means of getting it all back—and so much
more. She is exceedingly rich and once we have the money, it
should be no trouble at all to secure the influence needed
to restore your title."
"How much?" he asked, veiling his interest. "What is the
girl actually worth?"
She crawled onto his lap and laved her tongue up his
neck. "That information will come at a price." She was
begging to be taken again and Hadley felt nothing...or
rather nothing but an immense sense of relief that he was
over her. He jerked his head away. "I'm not in the mood for
any more games."
"Pity," she pouted. "Have you another lover now, Hadley?
Or perhaps you have developed a penchant for Venice's
unnatural pleasures? Most well–travelled men do, you
know. And I confess your valet was an exceptionally pretty
creature."
"How much?" he repeated icily, ignoring her insinuation.
She sighed. "I can't begin to tell you how much work that
took to discover. Sir Richard is tediously protective of her
assets."
"Sir Richard? What has he to do with this?" Hadley demanded.
"Yes, darling," she rolled her eyes. "That same obnoxious
boor. Did I not tell you the girl is his ward?"
"That girl is Sir Richard's ward?" When the girl in the
music room had introduced herself as Mary Elizabeth Edwardes
he had not made the connection, but then again, wily Sir
Richard had taken care not to reveal anything about the
Edwardes heir.
"One and the same my love, and worth every bit of fifty
thousand a year! That plump little pigeon is one of the
richest women in England, and thanks to me, she is yours for
the plucking."
The blood roared in his ears. It was just too bloody good
to be true. The very one who held his lands was residing
under Barbara's roof. The girl was not only the means to a
large fortune but also of revenge. "That certainly does
throw a different light on matters." He took heed not to
betray his growing excitement. "But you and I both know Sir
Richard would see me hanged before granting consent for me
to wed his ward."
She smiled. "Who said anything about seeking his consent?"
"You intend for me to despoil her to force a marriage? My
dear Barbara, such rude and crass methods don't suit me at
all. The entire thing lacks finesse."
She scowled. "Then how else do you propose we get control
of her fortune?"
"I would propose gaining the girl's good faith and
cooperation."
"And then what? Do you think she will just hand it over
to you?"
"Something very close to that."
"You are overly confident."
"Not at all," he laughed. "I have never failed to achieve
my object where a woman was concerned, nor has any ever
complained of my methods."
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