The main storyline of Madeline Hunter's THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS is a twist on the familiar blackmail premise. How the story unfolds,the techniques the author uses to reveal the secondary plot and the romance between the hero and the heroine held my interest.

Our heroine, Lady Lydia receives a letter from an acquaintance Algernon Trilby which hints both of scandal and blackmail. At Trilby's request, Lydia travels to a gaming hall to meet him. She learns that Trilby has a manuscript that she wrote a few years ago. He shows her a page from the manuscript which contains a detailed record of the coming and goings of the naval fleet in Portsmouth during the war with France. Trilby accuses her of treason and demands 10,000 pounds for his silence. Lydia and Trilby's conversation is interrupted by the Duke of Penthurst.

The character of Lady Lydia intrigued me. Madeline Hunter has crafted a heroine who is naive, headstrong and independent. Lady Lydia is a complicated character who considers herself too old to be married and excels at gambling. Through the conversations which take place in the first few chapters, between Lady Rosalyn and her nephew the Duke of Penthurst, Clayton Galbraith, the reader learns a bit more about Lydia and how she is viewed by society.

Penthurst is a friend of Lydia's family and has few of his own secrets. He's a great hero: honest, loyal and very judgmental-- a typical Duke! I loved the conversations between the Duke and his aunt and between the Duke and Lydia. At first it seemed that the Duke and Lydia were indifferent towards each other. What was Lydia's problem with Penthurst? What was it about him that she didn't like? And how did he always know when Lydia needed rescuing?

I read the last 100 or so pages of THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS in one sitting. Loved that Hunter took her time developing Penthurst and Lydia's attraction towards each other. They argued, they disagreed and they sizzled! It was believable and rewarding to this reader. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place when Lydia traveled to Hampshire by herself. I wasn't sure what she would discover at the cottage but I was glad Penthurst loved and trusted her enough to let her go. It made the ending of THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS very satisfying.

I reread the last chapter of the novel as I was writing this review. Just loved it and I could hear the humor and teasing tone in Penthurst's voice as he read pieces of the Lydia's novel which was written two years ago to her . I could also imagine her reaction especially when he read the description of Lydia's hero Beaumont.Lydia's words depicted someone else--the man reading the story to her, not its hero! A perfect ending!

Madeline Hunter's novel THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS is the fourth and final book in the Fairbourne Quartet. It can be read as a stand alone novel although it wraps up events from the prior novels in the series. This is the first book that I have read by Madeline Hunter and I did not have a problem following or enjoying the story. I plan to buy the rest of the series!