Being betrothed to a duke isn't enough, for what if there's no sign that the man is actually keen to wed? That's Lady Julia Chandler's predicament. By now she's twenty-three, and if Edmund decides he's tired of the whole idea, she'll be too old to marry suitably.
THE HEART OF A DUKE is what Julia, who grew up in the neighbouring family, hopes to win. But when she rides over to discuss the matter she mistakes Edmund's younger twin Daniel for the duke. Daniel was absent for ten years in America and he's irresponsible enough to kiss a girl he barely knows. When the truth is told, Julia is horrified. Daniel however is convinced she deserves better than his older brother.
Behind the romantic possibilities lie serious concerns. Daniel fled to Boston because someone set fire to the house, with him inside - he suspects the culprit is still keen to kill him. He has prospered in shipping, and finds England somewhat strait-laced. The tenants tell him that rents were raised and cheaper labour hired for field work. His brother seldom visits, spending his time and money in London and letting an overseer manage the estate, poorly. Daniel wants to mend many circumstances - including that of Julia's prolonged engagement - but he has no rights, being the younger. Julia is prompt to turn her hand to nursing or house cleaning for an ill tenant woman, and has the makings of a good estate manager - when she weds Edmund.
There's a lot of pleasant description of country life in Somerset, with cider making and a fair day, giving us an agreeable change from sooty, uppish London. War veterans need work and are easily hired.
However more research on England needs to be done, as hunting, especially while wearing red jackets, is a winter pursuit and the author has it occurring during a hot summer; she twice describes a 'nine hundred stone stallion' which would be the size of a house - for stones read pounds, and such a horse would be a carthorse rather than a hunter. Class distinctions also produced different vocabulary - a lord's little boy in Somerset would not say 'cor blimey'; this is a Cockney remark, while no upper crust lady would accuse hounds of barking - hounds 'speak'.
The adventure and romance in THE HEART OF A DUKE are enjoyable and interesting, with focus on character building, so I suggest readers of Victoria Morgan concentrate on her strengths.
Lady Julia Chandler fears she will be walking down the aisle
with a silver-tipped cane if she waits for the Duke of
Bedford to seal their engagement. Seeking to quicken his
pace, she decides to find her duke, kiss him senseless, and
post the wedding banns. It is a good plan, until she
mistakes her fianceβs long-absent twin for her duke.
Ten years ago, Lord Daniel Bryant sailed to America to find
his fortune and flee his cruel brother who inherited the
family title. A cryptic note draws him back to England: Come
home and claim your destiny. Before seeking anything, Daniel
must first determine who set the fire that nearly took his
life and precipitated his flight abroad. Now with the taste
of Lady Julia warm on his lips, the stakes are raised higher
than before as he seeks to claim both his destiny and the
lady of his heart.
"Don't you want to kiss me?" Before she lost her nerve, she
moistened her lips as Emily had once showed her to do to
make them more alluring.
He expelled a choked laugh. "Of course, I want to kiss you.
A man would have to be lacking a pulse to reject such an
offer. But Julesβ"
She paused at the old childhood nickname. He hadn't used it
in years. But his hands had drawn her back to him. "You do
have a pulse, don't you?" she whispered. She was standing so
close that she could see his long eyelashes, the black rim
circling the lovely green of his irises, and how his eyes
warmed at her question.
"For the moment," he returned dryly. "And I would prefer to
retain it. Should we proceed further with this, that could
be dangerous for both of us."
He had a point and the old Julia would have heeded it,
considering the warmth of his gaze sent her pulse skipping
into a treacherous rhythm. However, his look and the grip of
his hands on her waist made the new Julia feel young,
beautiful and desired, something Edmund had not made her
feel in years. "Really, Edmund, it is one kiss. How
dangerous could it be?" She raised a brow, knowing Edmund
never could refuse a challenge.
He sucked in a sharp breath and stared at her. After a beat,
he exhaled and swore softly. "Hell, I have been living
dangerously my whole life." His eyes dipped to her parted
lips. "Why stop now?" He yanked her to him, his arms vising
around her waist and crushing her tight.
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