Lancelot Hemingford, Duke of Aylesbury, is tired of rusticating in the country. He inherited his title nine months ago, when his older brother died suddenly. Because the local magistrate and coroner have not closed the case and ruled out foul play, suspicion has fallen on Lance. Due to Lance's reputation as a hell raiser, his other two brothers have urged him to hide out at his country estate until the case is closed, or the gossip and speculation stop.

While out riding one day, Lance encounters a lovely young lady in his family's graveyard, looking at the former dukes' headstones. Without revealing his identity, Lance indulges in some mild flirtation and tells the lady he will dance with her at the upcoming assembly. Marianne Radley is actually the niece of the magistrate who has been dragging his feet on closing out the case in Lance's brother's death, and she has moved back to the area to care for her cousin. Nora, the cousin and daughter of the magistrate, has withdrawn from society and into herself since an attack on her when she was only fifteen. Through erroneous assumptions, the magistrate believes Lance responsible, and is determined to see him marry Nora. Once he realizes how truly damaged and unfit for marriage Nora is, he changes his plan and sets about coercing the duke into marrying his niece, Marianne, instead.

Since the suspicion and innuendo have escalated rather than died down, Lance agrees to wed Marianne, since he already desires her and enjoys her company. Marianne hesitates, but her uncle browbeats her into accepting the proposal, using Nora as leverage. So, they marry. Lance looks forward to the physical part of their marriage, and is delighted to find that Marianne is his equal in passion, if not in experience. Their hot sexual chemistry and their genuine liking for each other points to their having a satisfying marriage, even though neither loves the other. Their short lived happiness comes to a major roadblock when the murder investigation ramps up, and some truths come to light.

I really enjoyed reading THE WICKED DUKE, and loved Lance and Marianne. She is honest, unselfish, kind and giving. Lance has, no doubt, been wicked with some of his past exploits, but he treats Marianne with care and respect. Though he comes to love reluctantly, when he does, he falls all the way. I love how Lance and Marianne interact with each other, and I adore how their love story was resolved. The whole mystery was engrossing, and I give Madeline Hunter credit for surprising me with the outcome. All in all, THE WICKED DUKE is a well paced, satisfying, romantic, and very sexy read that I heartily recommend.