Rosemary Fitzpatrick has a problem. It's 1859 in New York and F.P. Elliott has to meet the new owner of the publishing house that publishes his very successful dime novels. And therein lies the problem, because Rosemary and Mr. Elliott are one and the same. Even though her family support her completely in her decision to be an author, it is a time when not everyone is as enlightened. Deciding to disguise herself as Phoebe Wyatt, F.P. Elliott's niece and secretary, Rosemary feels she can dupe the new guy in charge. But her life changes the instant she meets Mr. Henry Cooper.
Henry has been sent to New York to run this branch of the publishing house that is owned by his father, Maxwell Cooper. They have an extremely fraught relationship, as Henri believes he was shipped off to his Uncle in New Orleans directly after his mother's death, because his father was ashamed of both him and the marriage to his mother. Henry felt not only abandoned but separated from his only sister Margeurite, when they needed each other the most. Anger and hurt seeps through their relationship and Henry is determined to make this business a success, in spite of his father.
When Henry meets 'Phoebe Wyatt' he is instantly attracted to her and over the course of two meetings, their attraction starts to grow. Deciding to take part in New York society, Henry arrives at the cotillion, only to meet 'Phoebe' debuting as Rosemary Fitzpatrick. Realising that she must come clean, in part, Rosemary tells him that 'Phoebe Wyatt' was just a ruse but holds back on explaining the whole truth. Deciding to court each other, their romance flourishes. As their passionate embraces grow ever stronger, can she trust him with the knowledge that she is F.P. Elliott, or has she left it too late to be honest about her career, and her love for him? More importantly will he still have feelings for her when he learns she has hidden the truth from him again? Or will the arrival of Henry's father destroy everything?
I really enjoyed reading THE DUPLICITOUS DEBUTANTE by Becky Lower. It had a different twist to other regency romances, and I loved Rosemary's spunk and determination to follow her own path, and to have a career that she loves. The character of Henry is everything a girl could ask for - tall, dark, handsome, and intelligent! I found Rosemary's family extremely entertaining, especially Charlotte, Rosemary's mother. An enchanting story filled with hopes and dreams, and plenty of passion of course!
In 1859, ladies of New York society are expected to do
three
things well: find a husband, organize a household, and
have
children. But despite her motherโs best intentions,
making
her debut is the last thing on Rosemary Fitzpatrickโs
mind.
Writing the popular Harry Hawk dime novels as F.P.
Elliott,
sheโs too busy hiding her female identity from her new
publisher, Henry Cooper. To protect her clandestine
career,
she ends up posing as the enigmatic author's secretary.
Henry is not the typical Boston Brahmin, nor the typical
publisher, and Rosemary entrances him from the moment
they
meet. As they work together and grow closer, he wonders
how
his traditional-minded father will react when he brings
her
into the family, because Henry firmly intends to marry
the
working-class woman.
But when her deception begins to unravel at the cotillion
ball, will Henry be able to forgive her or has deceit
cost
her the man she loves?
EXCERPT
Rosemary took a seat opposite her mother, and wrung her
gloved hands together. โMy meeting with Mr. Cooper is
this
afternoon, and after the dinner the other night when
little
Georgie decided to make his appearance, I realized I was
on
my own. So Iโve decided my best course of action is to
impersonate Mr. Elliottโs secretary. But only until I can
determine the true nature of Mr. Cooper. If heโs an
enlightened sort, Iโll reveal myself to him soon enough.
But right now, I canโt take the risk.โ She heaved a great
sigh after she pleaded with her mother for understanding.
Her mother pursed her lips together before she answered.
โI
think itโs a brilliant plan, my dear.โ
โYou do?โ
โWell, you know how much our family loves to have its
little secrets and to have fun with society. So, yes, Iโd
say itโs a good, solid plan. If Mr. Cooper turns out to
be
a truly enlightened nineteenth-century gentleman, such as
your father, you can reveal yourself to him at an
appropriate time. If not, you can continue to pose as Mr.
Elliottโs secretary. It would explain how you have all
the
details about the characters, the contracts with the
publisher, obligations still owed, and all the rest. I
figured, sooner or later, youโd come up with a perfect
solution.โ
โAll right, then. Thank you, Mother, for being behind me
in
my little secret. I guess I should quit stalling and get
over to the office. Itโll be the first time Iโve actually
set foot inside it.โ
โBut you know where it is, right? Should someone go with
you?โ
โYes, I know where it is. Actually, itโs not too far from
here. A good walk. And no, I donโt want anyone to come
with
me. In order to pull off the deception of a perfect
working-class secretary, I must show up by myself, donโt
you think? Iโve been by the place before, anyway. I
wanted
to see where my books were being printed. But now I get
to
go inside. Iโm excited. And a little bit nervous.โ
โAnd who knows? Maybe Mr. Cooper will turn out to be a
handsome single man.โ
Rosemary ran her hands down her soft flannel skirt.
โMother, please. One thing at a time. Iโll find a husband
when the time is right. For now, I need to salvage my
career. The only man in my life right now is Harry Hawk.
And heโs depending on me.โ
โHarry Hawk canโt keep you warm at night, though,
Rosemary.
Or provide me with another grandchild.โ
โTell me your impressions of the man from your meeting
with
him. Your Mr. Cooper. Is he young? Older? Short? Tall?โ
Rosemary bristled and pierced her mother with her gaze.
โFirst, heโs not my Mr. Cooper. And besides, what does
physical appearance have to do with the measure of the
man?โ
Her mother smiled. Just a ghost of a smile, but a smile
nonetheless. Rosemary suddenly became very interested in
the pattern of the carpet.
Her mother replied, โAs you are well aware, a manโs
physical presence has little to do with the mind trapped
inside the body. But it will help to give me a mental
picture of him, so I can know what weโre dealing with.โ
Rosemary took a deep breath. โAll right, then. Heโs a
young
man, but not too young. Perhaps mid-twenties. The
publishing company in Boston belongs to his father, but
heโs allowing his son to have control of the dime novel
portion of the business. At least thatโs what I gathered
from our conversation.โ
โAnd his appearance?โ
Rosemary shifted again in her seat. His appearance. The
most handsome man sheโd ever met. No, she couldnโt reveal
that to her mother. โHeโs tall, probably around six feet
or
so. His hair is dark, and he ties it back into a queue.โ
โHmmm. Not at all what my image of a Boston Brahmin is.
What is his origin?โ
Rosemary brought her lips together into a tight line.
โIโm
not certain, Mother, although he did mention he spent
some
time in New Orleans. Does it matter?โ
Charlotte straightened out the wrinkles in her skirt,
brushing her hands over her lap in a casual motion.
Rosemary was well aware of what the action signified. It
meant her mother was devising a plan. A plan involving
her
and Henry Cooper. She stood again, and began to pace.
โWill you sit down, child, and talk about this? Youโre
making me dizzy.โ?โOnly if you can promise me you have no
more subterfuge up your lace sleeve.โ โOh, do sit,
Rosemary, and stop being so dramatic. Itโs not as if
youโre
tied to some railroad track with a train barreling down
on
you. Your interaction with Mr. Cooper is merely a bump in
the road.โ
Tied to a railroad track with a train barreling down on
you. Her fingers itched for a pen and some paper.
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