This was the second book taken from the hotel library (exchanged, actually; I left books in return of course!). It’s easily as ridiculous as the Betty Neels book, coincidentally also has a heroine named Henrietta, whose age of four and twenty is more appropriate for the time, but that’s where all comparisons end. This one has enjoyable characters to take you through the story. Also, this story is not chaste at all so if that’s not your thing, steer clear.
The story goes as follows.
Henrietta is the only child of the Duke of Granville, which in the mid-ish 1800s (no specific year is given) is a problem, because as a woman she’s not allowed to inherit the dukedom. Henrietta is smart, sharp and an entrepreneur, so she sets out to marry her widower father off so he can sire an heir. Her father though, isn’t into this one bit.
Henrietta won’t listen to his objections and plows ahead, organizing a ball with any young woman of peerage in attendance. She’s all too aware that without an heir the dukedom will fall to the Crown after her father’s death and that means she will lose the family vineyard business.
At this ball she meets Ash Ellis, who of course is tall, broad-shouldered and handsome as sin. She doesn’t know who he is, but can’t refuse a waltz with this rogue without causing a scene. So they dance and it’s lust at first sight for both of them.
Henrietta, happily settled into spinsterhood because who needs a man to distract them from running a business, doesn’t know what to do with these sudden feelings. She decides a woman deserves at least one kiss in her life and Ash all too happily agrees. They are spotted by her father though, so a marriage is happening, no matter how much she objects. Her father won’t hear no, especially not when it is revealed that Ash is actually a long lost relative, and the only one eligible to inherit the dukedom and save it from going to the Crown. The duke is so happy that he doesn’t have to marry any of the women at the ball, and can now elope with his mistress instead, that Henrietta’s objections are overruled on all fronts. The tables have turned on Henrietta which isn’t easy for her to admit.
Because she fears that marriage will be the death of her vineyards as much as losing them to the Crown, she goes to the Boadicea Club for Ladies that she is a member of, and seeks the wisdom and input of her friends. (Who all sound pretty awesome, by the way.) After the necessary complaining about men holding all the power, they create a list of pros and cons for marriage to Ash. It ends up being even, and defeated Henrietta decides to get the most out of it and makes Ash sign a document of guidelines and rules for their marriage.
It’s not a spoiler to reveal that Ash of course, is running a con on the family, eager to work himself up from the lowest of the low, to the highest possible. He’s not just a bare-knuckle boxing game den owner though, he has his sights set on making a change in child labour laws and he can only do that as a member of the peerage. He was a child labourer himself, before falling into a life of pickpocketing and conning.
Henrietta and Ash don’t trust each other and play their cards close to the chest. They are forced into a marriage neither wants. The only things they have in common is that they both want to be in charge, and that they have a lot of pants feelings for each other.
As said: this story is as ridiculous as the others. The ridiculousness comes from the story being so over the top though, not from a lack of story or character.
It was published way more recently in 2021, so that makes it more current, even though it takes place in the 1800s, as it clearly is written with a modern view. But what makes this the clear winner, is that the characters have character and as a reader you get to know them and what drives them.
Henrietta is not just smart, but feisty and stubborn as well. When she finds out Ash is secretly smitten with his cat, gentle with children, and protective of the people he cares about, she has to admit that he is not the dangerous devil that he makes the world believe he is.
Ash learns that even though Henrietta grew up in the safe bubble of nobility, she’s not blind to the problems of the real world and willing to adjust, and fighting for change in her own way.
They both have to admit they were wrong and make changes in their approaches.
They are both passionate for what they believe in, and because those standpoints are opposing they bicker a lot. Their bickering is a lot of fun because neither is used to losing arguments, and it means that sparks are flying. And because this is a romance novel, we all know it ends with a happily ever after.
All in all this book is an easy escape read for anyone who likes the Bridgerton books (or series).
Bookworm in the City 