Because of an ancestor who could not keep his britches on -- the former Duke is literally the descendant of a bastard! -- Nicholas Smithfield is now the Duke of Gage. Moreover, some provisions to the title demand that the Duke of Gage, whoever the man might be, shall marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Nicholas never wanted that title, and notorious rake that he is, never wanted to marry either; he was quite satisfied wasting his life away with women, wine, and boxing. However when Nicholas meets his intended, he gathers things could have been much worse. Lady Isabella had always been prepared to make a grand marriage, she has been groomed to become a Duchess; it was her destiny. Isabella has never been one to question her parents' decisions, so a Duke she will marry but she feels the new Duke is a great improvement over the Duke who is not the Duke of Gage anymore.
Regardless my apparent jesting, fear not, gentle readers, PUT UP YOUR DUKE is not silly at all. Ms. Frampton has crafted a very entertaining and charming tale of two people determined not to be miserable when faced with a bewildering situation. Nicholas who is used to diverting himself with courtesans and actresses, treats Isabella with all the respect she deserves; he is considerate, attentive and gentle.
As far as marriages of convenience go, PUT UP YOUR DUKE is a smashing success! Our Duke and Duchess do not act stubbornly; they accept gracefully their unwanted situation. There are no misunderstandings or miscommunications: both Isabella and Nicholas try to make the best of the hurdles they face, because that's what the customs dictated at the time and they are prepared to make their marriage work. Nicholas is attuned to Isabella's feelings, and the dutiful daughter is a devoted wife; it doesn't hurt that they like each other as well. Ms. Frampton handles the whole situation very realistically and subtly, which makes following Nicholas' wooing of his wife a most compelling and enchanting story. PUT UP YOUR DUKE is exquisitely written, richly detailed, character development is superb, and the dialogues are witty. PUT UP YOUR DUKE is a most delightful and fresh take on a favourite trope of mine with fun plot twists. I thoroughly enjoyed PUT UP YOUR DUKE and I believe you will too!
He was once happily bedding and boxing, but in the newest Duke's Behaving Badly novel, Nicholas Smithfield has inherited a title and a bride . . . To keep his estate afloat, the new Duke of Gage must honor an agreement to marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Stunningly beautiful, utterly tempting, she's also a bag of wedding night nerves, so Nicholas decides to wait to do his duty—even if it means heading to the boxing saloon every day to punch away his frustration. Groomed her whole life to become the perfect duchess, Isabella longs for independence, a dream that is gone forever. As her husband, Nicholas can do whatever he likes—but, to Isabella's surprise, the notorious rake instead begins a gentle seduction that is melting every inch of her reserve, night by night . . . To his utter shock, Nicholas discovers that no previous exploits were half as pleasurable as wooing his own wife. But has the realm's most disreputable duke found the one woman who can bring him to his knees— and leave him there?
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