Julian Fortescue came by his new title of Duke of Danford only because he happened to be the only male left in a family of women. He was an art dealer, and "the disreputable and despised" Julian doesn't quite know how to behave as a duke; he's more of an adventurer. His mother has recently remarried and when she comes by to visit, it's to dump his 3 young half-sisters with him; finding a governess becomes a pressing matter.
Miss Jane Grey is determined to get a job at the Duke's. Jane, or more precisely Jeanne-Louise de Falleron, was given the papers of her former governess and avoided an unfortunate demise after the French Revolution; she's of noble blood. Her entire family perished, and she has decided to kill the guilty party. She knows a Fortescue was involved; the problem is she doesn't know which one it was. When she enquires about a post at the Duke of Danford's, she is told a governess is urgently needed; that is something for which she is qualified. But while Jane is not a shy maiden, it's obvious the Duke wants her for much more than taking care of his half-sisters.
THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES features the enigmatic Julian, whom we had previously encountered in this series, and Ms. Neville provides sufficient background story that anyone will be able to easily follow. The author has woven a very intricate plot around the somewhat mysterious Julian and the art collection he still hasn't retrieved. Miranda Neville has created irresistible characters: they are very complex, and it was very nice to see them develop and change as the book went along. Jane is a strong-willed, determined, and extremely clever woman whose shady background is an interesting departure from most historical fiction heroines. She is also very caring, abhors injustice, and through her, Julian becomes a better man.
THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES is beautifully written: Ms. Neville's sumptuous yet easy prose is as luminous as ever, and the dialogues are brilliant: Jane and Julian engage in the most subtle, sexy and witty banter; they're charming, and ever so improper. The author's attention to historical detail is superb, and a divan upholstered in gold fabric becomes almost a secondary character in Julian's pursuit of Jane. THE DUKE OF DARK DESIRES is a splendid conclusion to The Wild Quartet series.
Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .
Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a
dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young
half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays
eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualifiedβ
to
become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears
impervious to him. Somehow Julian must find a way to make
her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart
and
revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.
Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation
. . .
Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a
governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of
Denford.
Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the
duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her
familyβand take her revenge. She certainly can't afford
the
distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the
smoldering desire he ignites within her .
But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she
seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than
her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the
man
she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?
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