Miss Caroline Ritter is a diamond of the first water and a
much sought after debutante. When she is found in a
compromising position, she is ruined in the eyes of the ton.
And, since she can no longer marry a peer, her father casts
her out. After years of menial jobs, Caroline applies to
Adorna Bucknell's Distinguished Academy of Governesses for a
position. When asked what she is accomplished at Caroline
has but one reply -- flirting.
The Duke of Nevett wants his son, Jude, the Earl of
Huntington, married and producing grandchildren to carry on
the family line so he hires Caroline to teach Jude to flirt
so that he can secure a bride. However, Jude is on a mission
to find out who killed his older brother and to foil a plot
against England. He is only playing the dandy and fool in
order to gather information for the Home Office. He dresses
outrageously to make society think he is a nincompoop of the
highest order so he can get closer to the men who murdered
his brother and discover why they are in England.
This is Ms. Dodd's seventh book in the Governess Bride
series. This book started off with a bang but somewhere in
the middle, it became got choppy. The episode at the opera
was over the top and unbelievable, with his mother sitting
just ten feet away. However, the scene after the opera --
now, that was very erotic and believable.
There are some time gaps and a few scenes that were way too
outlandish to be enjoyed. I think it is very distracting
when minor characters are introduced to fill pages and then
rushed so you have no idea why they were even mentioned in
the first place.
I wish that Ms. Dodd had expanded the Freshfield storyline
because the conclusion seemed very anti- climatic to me. It
was enjoyable to learn what Jude did to insure Caroline's
safety and to make sure she was no longer bothered by
Freshie. Caroline's character was hard to figure out -- one
moment she was a strong woman living on the streets
supporting herself -- and the next she was a cowering
weakling when confronted by a couple of old biddies. The
repartee between Caroline and Jude could be very funny. The
very idea that the Duke had no idea that Jude and Duchess
set Caroline up in his house and he just thought she arrived
early each day for work was a hoot. The ending of this book
has expertly set up the story for her next book.
Miss Caroline Ritter, accomplished flirt, acknowledged
beauty, and ruined gentlewoman, offers lessons to any rich,
noble lord too inept to attract a wife. Discard your silly
affectations and your garish clothing! Learn the art of
witty conversation, elegant dancing, equestrian feats and
irresistible seduction at the opera! With Miss Ritter's
help, you can become the most sought-after aristocrat at
the ball!
Send your request to the Distinguished Academy of Gover
nesses.
Please, absolutely no devastatingly attractive men with
hidden agendas, such as secret missions or vengeful plots
against evil villains—specifically not Jude Durant, the
earl of Huntington, the most handsome, the most covert, the
most dangerous of all the aristocrats in Regency London.
Excerpt
Chapter OneLondon
Summer, 1847
"It's not that you were a pickpocket, Samantha. It's that
you persist in exposing your employers' foibles to your
employers themselves, and they don't care for it." Adorna,
Lady Bucknell, spoke in her soft and husky voice, and
anyone listening would think she placidly accepted
Samantha's most recent dismissal.
Samantha Prendregast didn't make that mistake. She stood
before the desk with her chin up, shoulders back, just as
Adorna had taught her. "No, ma'am."
The study of the Distinguished Academy of Governesses had
been decorated in shades of pale blue, and Adorna's lush
blonde beauty shone like a diamond in a satin setting. "I
warned you about Mr. Wordlaw. I told you he was a martinet
who believes women should be seen and not heard, and you
assured me you would be able to handle him." Samantha
resisted the desire to shift back and forth. "Yes, ma'am."
"Yet in two short months you are back at the Distinguished
Academy of Governesses without a job, without a reference,
and with a guarantee that Mr. Wordlaw's vengefulness will
spread your larcenous reputation among the few of the ton
who don't yet know it." Adorna folded her hands beneath her
chin and fixed her large blue eyes on Samantha. "So what is
your defense this time?"
Samantha thought of what she should say, how she could
pacify Adorna, but she had given up lying at the same time
she had given up stealing. "He bullies his son. The lad
doesn't want to study the law. Little Norman stammers
already, and when his father dragged him up in front of the
entire family and mocked him, my heart ached for him, and I
wanted to" -- she grewwarm as she thought about that day,
or perhaps the heat of a summer day in the City affected
her -- "teach that man a lesson."
"So you told his wife about his mistress and convinced his
mistress to abandon him. How will that benefit young
Norman?"
"Mrs. Wordlaw's father controls the money. She has taken
her son and left Wordlaw, which she should have done years
ago, but she was too proud to admit she'd made a mistake.
Norman's grandfather will make sure Norman gets to follow
his dream." Samantha remembered how science fascinated the
boy. "I think the lad is going to invent something
wonderful."
"And the mistress?"
Samantha grinned. "She's a friend of mine from my street
days. She relished giving the old whoreson the heave-ho for
a chance at young Lord Penwyn."
"How did she get that chance?"
"I arranged it."
Adorna's delicate sigh conveyed resignation. "I'll wager
you did."
"My lady, I'm sorry I lost the position and brought
disgrace upon the Distinguished Academy of Governesses."
Samantha really was sorry, sorrier than she could say. "But
I'm not sorry I helped Norman."
"No, I'm not sorry, either. But there are always more
discreet ways of maneuvering."
Samantha hated that she had disappointed Adorna --
again. "I know. I really, really do. I try to remember what
you tell me, but sometimes I lose my temper, and I don't
get it back for a long time. By then it's too late."
"Sit down." Adorna indicated the blue velvet chair beside
Samantha.
Samantha slid into it gratefully. Adorna had rescued her
from the streets six years before, and for the first three
of those years Samantha had studied Adorna's every word and
move in hopes of emulating her charm and beauty. Now, at
the age of twenty-two, Samantha faced the fact that a tall
blonde Viking with outspoken tendencies could never squeeze
herself into Adorna's dainty, circumspect mold. But the
time spent contemplating Adorna had given Samantha insight
into the shrewd mind her patron hid beneath her breathy
voice and curvaceous body. The worst of the censure was
over. Now she must face the consequences.
And she knew how to face consequences. She'd learned that,
not from Adorna, but from a father who, from the time she
could toddle, taught her to pick a pocket and smile
charmingly all the while.
"Mr. Wordlaw had quite the black eye when he came here to
complain," Adorna said.
Samantha bunched up her skinny fist.
Adorna nodded. "That's what I thought. Did he attack you?"
"He tried. After his wife had moved out." Their tussle had
been brief and sharp, and Samantha's arm ached where he had
wrenched it. She didn't allow herself to show the terror
that struggle had engendered, nor would she admit how often
she came awake, heart pounding, in the grips of a
nightmare. "He really is a despicable little man."
"He's over six foot. Most people would not call him little."
"Not in stature. In character."
"Hm. Yes. Be that as it may, he is a respected judge --"
"Respected?"
"For the moment. Until I can spread gossip to the contrary."
"You are good, my lady." Samantha folded her hands in her
lap and tried to appear demure.
She obviously didn't succeed, for Adorna's voice
sharpened. "Even then, my dear young crusader for justice,
there are those who believe a woman should honor her vows
regardless of how corrupt her husband is."
"Men, mostly."
"Mostly." Adorna tapped her nails on the open letter before
her and stared beyond Samantha. "Part of the problem with
placing you is that you're an attractive young woman."
"Thank you, my lady." Adorna had taught Samantha many
things, among them how to make the most of her best
features. Samantha braided her platinum blonde hair and
wrapped it over her ears, and into a loose knot at the back
of her neck. She used her large brown eyes to flirt and
admire, and never did she allow them to reveal her
intelligence. Her lips were generous -- too generous, in
her opinion, but Adorna had told her men would want to kiss
them. That turned out to be true ...
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