Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific book with a very unusual beginning. The book opens as Pru reminisces about how she became her aunt's companion. Tall and shy, her Season in London did not go well. After hearing herself described as "dull as her name," Pru offered to become Aunt Minerva's companion, allowing her younger, prettier, and livelier sisters to make suitable matches. In the four years since then, Pru has been happy with her aunt and working in various charitable organizations. On this night, she is up late reading when she hears a sound from the kitchen and discovers a handsome and inebriated man at her kitchen table.
Garrick, Duke of Harland, has spent the day drinking, working up the courage to fulfill his obligation to propose to a lady promised to him since they were children. Garrick has spent the last ten years out of the country after a scandalous duel sent him fleeing to the continent. His mother told him to stay away, even after his father's death, but recently called him home. Garrick is so drunk that he mistakes Pru's house for one a few doors down, run by a woman of questionable virtue.
I liked the first encounter between Pru and Garrick. Pru is understandably shocked and wary at first, but her caring nature emerges once she realizes he is no threat. I loved watching her fix him food, encourage him to eat, and listen to his troubles. Having someone listen to him makes a huge difference, and he finally leaves her kitchen in a better frame of mind. But this is not the end of their acquaintance.
They meet again a few months later in London. Pru and her aunt are staying with a friend, and Pru is again facing societal events that she dislikes. Garrick went to London after his erstwhile fiancée rejected him, but the rumor mill claims that he jilted her, labeling him a rogue. Other unsavory rumors are circulating about him, and Pru is told to keep away from him. But those rumors contradict what she knows of him, and her sense of fairness is outraged. When she overhears the person spreading the rumors, she insists on telling Garrick about it. The perpetrator is no surprise to him, but he plans to leave London until it all dies down. Unfortunately for his plans, Pru is determined to fight those rumors, and Garrick feels he must remain in London to protect her from herself.
I enjoyed seeing Pru's investigative attempts as she tried to find a way to clear Garrick's name. She unearths some helpful information, but Garrick is determined to keep her out of scandal's way. With the time they spend together, it's no surprise that the connection they felt at their first meeting grows stronger. Though Pru has fallen hard for Garrick, she is convinced she is too far below him for anything to come of it. Meanwhile, Garrick realizes he wants Pru in his life, but his attempts to make her see that are awkward at best.
When Garrick's attempt to follow up on some of Pru's information results in him being badly beaten, Pru is the one who steps in to nurse him. She has no care for her reputation, only that Garrick recovers. I ached for her fears for him and her belief that he only wanted her out of gratitude. It takes some interference from an unexpected source for Pru to believe him when he tells her of his feelings.
The story behind the rumors about Garrick is one of jealousy and revenge, with his misspent youth coming back to haunt him. I loved Pru's instinctive distrust of that couple when she met them and her determination to foil their plans. There were also further rumors about his actions on the continent, fed from the same source. I was unsurprised by the truth, as it was a far better fit for Garrick's personality. Pru's actions put her in danger, and that confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was resolved.
My favorite secondary characters were Garrick's friend, Jack, and his valet, Stow. Jack knows Garrick well and becomes a critical ally in clearing Garrick's name. I especially enjoyed seeing Jack and Pru stand together against Garrick's stubbornness, and I would love to see Jack get his own story. I loved how Stow immediately took to Pru and conspired with her to help Garrick. They made a terrific team when Garrick was injured.
The only thing that might have improved the book was an epilogue to show how they are doing later.
#netgalley
Garrick, Duke of Harland, has spent the day drinking, working up the courage to fulfill his obligation to propose to a lady promised to him since they were children. Garrick has spent the last ten years out of the country after a scandalous duel sent him fleeing to the continent. His mother told him to stay away, even after his father's death, but recently called him home. Garrick is so drunk that he mistakes Pru's house for one a few doors down, run by a woman of questionable virtue.
I liked the first encounter between Pru and Garrick. Pru is understandably shocked and wary at first, but her caring nature emerges once she realizes he is no threat. I loved watching her fix him food, encourage him to eat, and listen to his troubles. Having someone listen to him makes a huge difference, and he finally leaves her kitchen in a better frame of mind. But this is not the end of their acquaintance.
They meet again a few months later in London. Pru and her aunt are staying with a friend, and Pru is again facing societal events that she dislikes. Garrick went to London after his erstwhile fiancée rejected him, but the rumor mill claims that he jilted her, labeling him a rogue. Other unsavory rumors are circulating about him, and Pru is told to keep away from him. But those rumors contradict what she knows of him, and her sense of fairness is outraged. When she overhears the person spreading the rumors, she insists on telling Garrick about it. The perpetrator is no surprise to him, but he plans to leave London until it all dies down. Unfortunately for his plans, Pru is determined to fight those rumors, and Garrick feels he must remain in London to protect her from herself.
I enjoyed seeing Pru's investigative attempts as she tried to find a way to clear Garrick's name. She unearths some helpful information, but Garrick is determined to keep her out of scandal's way. With the time they spend together, it's no surprise that the connection they felt at their first meeting grows stronger. Though Pru has fallen hard for Garrick, she is convinced she is too far below him for anything to come of it. Meanwhile, Garrick realizes he wants Pru in his life, but his attempts to make her see that are awkward at best.
When Garrick's attempt to follow up on some of Pru's information results in him being badly beaten, Pru is the one who steps in to nurse him. She has no care for her reputation, only that Garrick recovers. I ached for her fears for him and her belief that he only wanted her out of gratitude. It takes some interference from an unexpected source for Pru to believe him when he tells her of his feelings.
The story behind the rumors about Garrick is one of jealousy and revenge, with his misspent youth coming back to haunt him. I loved Pru's instinctive distrust of that couple when she met them and her determination to foil their plans. There were also further rumors about his actions on the continent, fed from the same source. I was unsurprised by the truth, as it was a far better fit for Garrick's personality. Pru's actions put her in danger, and that confrontation kept me glued to the pages until it was resolved.
My favorite secondary characters were Garrick's friend, Jack, and his valet, Stow. Jack knows Garrick well and becomes a critical ally in clearing Garrick's name. I especially enjoyed seeing Jack and Pru stand together against Garrick's stubbornness, and I would love to see Jack get his own story. I loved how Stow immediately took to Pru and conspired with her to help Garrick. They made a terrific team when Garrick was injured.
The only thing that might have improved the book was an epilogue to show how they are doing later.
#netgalley
