SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS is a short novella, just 160
pages,
book 6.5 in the Mackenzies/McBrides series. With
only fifteen
chapters, the getting to know you then the fall into love
of
Rose and Steven occurs very rapidly. This light and very
quick read provides a brief look into the lives of the
Mackenzies as we wait for the release of the full novel
Rules for a Proper Governess, which is next in the series.
Rose Barclay is the young widow of the Duke of Southdown.
The duke died on their honeymoon, and it was intimated
that
the rigors of the marriage bed were too much for the
elderly
peer. The newspapers are making much out of the
lampooning
of the grieving widow. Rose's evil stepson is contesting
her widow's portion, and kicks her out of the estate's
dower
house to kennel his dogs in it instead. The stepson is a
fairly cardboard villain, but provides a good reason for
Rose and Steven to be thrown together so strongly and so
rapidly.
Steven McBride is a wild Scottish soldier on leave from
his
regiment in West Africa, who is known for his womanizing
and
heavy gambling. Rose is fleeing some intrusive
journalists
when she literally runs into Steven. He falls into Rose's
bosom after leaving a gambling den, then passes out drunk
on
her lap. The scandal-mongering newspapers lewdly suggest
that the newly widowed (and innocent!) duchess is starting
an affair with Steven. Steven proposes a a ruse to fool
the
journalists, and then the two start off an a rapid
adventure
that has several unexpected consequences.
Fans of the series will love the many glimpses of other
family. I was especially happy to see quite a bit of Ian
Mackenzie, by far my favorite of all the characters in
this
series. There is a fun little mystery the intrepid couple
solves, and a satisfying Happily Ever After. Consider
this
little story an amuse bouche, a single, bite-sized hors
d'œuvre, to whet your appetite and prepare you for the
upcoming meal of the next novel arriving.
Scandal follows Rose Barclay, young widow of the Duke of
Southdown, wherever she goes. It's never her fault, but
newspapers love to write about the young woman from
Scotland, and the much older duke she married, who died on
their honeymoon. The duke left her with a large widow's
portion, now contested by his younger brother, who kicks
Rose out of the estate's dower house and uses it to kennel
his dogs.
Rose does not need to be found with a large, handsome Scot
passed out at her feet, fueling gossips and giving her
brother-in-law more ammunition. The Scot is Steven
McBride--a decorated soldier who is notorious for heavy
gambling and womanizing during his leave time. Steven is
happy to open his eyes and find the beautiful woman
standing
over him, and happy to help spirit her away. But the
journalists get wind and start a campaign to couple Rose
with the scandalous Steven McBride.
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